Cerebral cavernous malformations and epilepsy.
Seizures and epilepsy are frequent clinical manifestations of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) and represent the most common symptomatic presentation of supratentorial lesions. Clinicians often diagnose CCMs in patients after a first seizure, or in some cases after obtaining neuroimaging studies in patients suffering from chronic epilepsy previously thought to be idiopathic. In some cases, the lesion is clinically significant solely because of its epileptogenicity, but in others there may be concern about potential hemorrhage or focal neurological deficits from a similar lesion. The authors present current pathophysiological concepts related to epilepsy associated with CCMs. They discuss the spectrum of seizure disorders associated with these lesions and review the natural history, prognosis, and options for therapeutic intervention.
Awad
Issam
I
Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, Illinois, USA. iawad@enh.org
Jabbour
Pascal
P
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends