title: Giant cavernous hemangiomas: report of three cases.
abstract: Giant cavernous hemangiomas occur very rarely, and little has been reported about their behavior. In this case report three cavernous hemangiomas with a diametric measure between 6 cm and 7 cm and distinct features will be described. A 36-year-old female patient presented with headache and nausea. A CT scan disclosed a large circumscribed tumor with strong contrast enhancement in the temporo-parieto-occipital region of the right cerebral hemisphere and extension into the right cerebellar hemisphere. A 35-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency ward with a generalized seizure and a dilated pupil. The CT scan showed an extensive left frontal lesion containing a substantial hyperintense part, suspicious for hemorrhage. A 3-year-old girl was admitted with generalized seizure and progressively declining consciousness. A large left frontotemporal paraventricular multi-cystic lesion was encountered on the CT scan. All three patients were operated on. Two recovered very well. In the case of the 3-year-old girl stable disease was reached. Giant cavernomas do not differ from average-sized cavernomas in clinical, surgical or histopathological presentation but may differ radiologically. However, the possible diagnosis of cavernoma can be overlooked, due to their size and possible differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Department, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. e.vanlindert@nch.umcn.nl
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: van Lindert
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Grotenhuis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wesseling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium