[Brainstem cavernomas: surgical experience at the CH Sainte-Anne general hospital].
OBJECTIVE
No standard treatment for brainstem cavernoma has been established because of the lack of sufficient data about the natural history of these lesions in a highly functional location with potential difficult surgical accessibility.


METHODS
We present a series of 82 brainstem cavernomas managed at the Sainte-Anne Hospital. Surgery was undertaken for 25 with stereotactic biopsy for 9 and direct surgery for 19 (3 after biopsy).


RESULTS
Surgical outcome was good or fair for 17 patients. Two patients worsened and one died. Biopsy results were disappointing with high morbidity (4 patients with 2 permanent deficits). Histological diagnostic was possible for all biopsies.


CONCLUSIONS
In light of these results, an active surgical attitude could be proposed for cavernomas in an accessible locations which have produced at least one previous hemorrhage. Stereotactic biopsies for suspect brainstem cavernoma must be avoided.
Nataf
F
F
Service de neurochirurgie, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1 rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France. f.nataf@ch-sainte-anne.fr
Roux
F-X
FX
Devaux
B
B
Page
P
P
Turak
B
B
Dezamis
E
E
Abi Lahoud
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D016634:Radiosurgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome