title: Management of patients with cavernous angiomas presenting epileptic seizures.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noto
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akimura
authors.forename: Hirochika
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imoto
authors.forename: Sadahiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hirosuke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Michiyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants