title: Cavernous angiomas of the brain stem and spinal cord.
abstract: This article reviews the pathology, clinical course and management of cavernous angiomas in the brain stem and spinal cord. Both lesions have been diagnosed with increasing frequency as a result of magnetic resonance image scanning. Brain stem lesions tend to present dramatically; their treatment remains microsurgical excision despite some studies that have looked at the use of radiosurgery. Spinal lesions are either extra-, or more commonly, intramedullary. Intramedullary cavernomas present with a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from acute haematomyelia to presentations that mimic demylelinating conditions; extramedullary cavernous angiomas tend to produce radicular symptoms or subarachnoid haemorrhage. Both are treated by microsurgical excision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bhangoo
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Crockard