Management of patients with cavernous angiomas presenting epileptic seizures.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to establish a treatment strategy for patients with cavernous angiomas and have seizures.


METHODS
We analyzed retrospectively 31 patients with cavernous angiomas presenting with seizures. Of the 31 patients, 15 (11 men, 4 women) had been treated medically (the medical group) and 16 (11 men, 5 women) had been treated surgically (the surgical group). The percentage of patients who became seizure-free and the number of anticonvulsants used were compared between these 2 groups. The mean follow-up period was 5.3 years (range, 7 months-10 years). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to the number of patients, sex, age, and follow-up period.


RESULTS
The percentage of patients who became seizure-free was higher in the surgical group than in the medical group (80% vs 19%, P < .01). The number of anticonvulsants required was reduced in the surgical group after surgery (from 1.5 +/- 0.7 to 1.1 +/- 0.8, P < .01) and was not reduced after in the medical group.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical intervention may have greater benefits than medical intervention for patients with cavernous angiomas presenting with epileptic seizures.
Noto
Sadami
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan.
Fujii
Masami
M
Akimura
Tatsuo
T
Imoto
Hirochika
H
Nomura
Sadahiro
S
Kajiwara
Koji
K
Kato
Shoichi
S
Fujisawa
Hirosuke
H
Suzuki
Michiyasu
M
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants