[Intramedullary cavernomas: personal series of 24 cases].
Intramedullary cavernomas are rare, but with routinely use of MRI detection has improved, raising the problem of choosing the adequate management approach: conservative or surgical. Cavernomas are vascular malformations, but, as hemangioblastomas they appear as vascular tumors of the spinal cord. They can be durably asymptomatic. The symptoms are a progressive clinical deterioration or acute spinal dysfunction (tetra or paraplegia) in case of hemorrhage. Cavernomas have a typical aspect with MRI in contrast with intramedullary gliomas. The lesion is often superficial, covered by the pia-mater, visible immediately after opening the dura, the approach is direct; but in few cases the cavernoma is deep seated in the spinal cord and not visible, the approach is through the midline. It is recommended to perform a complete "en bloc" resection. A yearly MRI control is necessary to search possible "de novo" cases.
Lefranc
F
F
Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Erasme, université libre de Bruxelles, 808 route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
Balériaux
D
D
Brotchi
J
J
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D046748:Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000601:surgery*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*