Large cystic cavernous angioma of the cerebellum mimicking pilocytic astrocytoma.
OBJECTIVE
Cavernous angiomas are relatively rare vascular malformations. They are generally located supratentorially with a rare incidence in the cerebellum. Cavernous angiomas, accompanied by a large cyst, are very rare. We present a case of a cavernous angioma with the unusual MRI findings of a large cyst and a small mural nodule.


METHODS
The patient was a 48-year-old man who complained of a history of dizziness for several weeks. The neurologic examination in the neurosurgery clinic was without deficit.


METHODS
The cyst measured 4.7x4.0 cm and contained serous fluid with a nodular mass in the lower part of the cyst. The cystic wall and the solid mural nodule were completely removed through a midline suboccipital approach. Postoperatively, the patient remained neurologically intact.


CONCLUSIONS
When a large cystic lesion is present in the cerebellum, preoperative radiological and intraoperative findings led to misdiagnosis. Therefore, a rare cystic angioma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of infratentorial cystic masses.
Lim
Sung-Chul
SC
Department of Pathology, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea. sclim@chosun.ac.kr
Hong
Ran
R
Kim
Young-Sook
YS
Jang
Suk-Jung
SJ
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D020863:Central Nervous System Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome