Patients with spinal cord cavernous malformations are at an increased risk for multiple neuraxis cavernous malformations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of multiple neuraxis cavernous malformations in patients who initially presented with intramedullary spinal cord (IMSC) cavernous malformations without knowledge of cavernous malformations elsewhere in the neuraxis.


METHODS
Hospital records and radiographic files were analyzed for 17 patients who subsequently underwent surgical resection of an IMSC cavernous malformation (histologically proven) and also underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging studies. These 17 patients represented a subset of 32 patients who underwent surgical resection of an IMSC cavernous malformation during the same period.


RESULTS
Of 17 patients, 8 (47%) harbored multiple cavernous malformations. This group was composed of five women and three men (mean age, 35.9 yr). There were four Caucasian and four Hispanic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of multiple cavernous malformations in the neuraxis seems to be increased in patients who harbor IMSC cavernous malformations. This finding has important implications for the evaluation and management of these patients and, in some cases, their family members.
Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
A G
AG
Vishteh
J M
JM
Zabramski
R F
RF
Spetzler
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery*