title: Cystic cavernous malformation of the cerebellopontine angle: case report and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cavernous malformations (CMs) in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are rare, and most of such CMs reported to date are solid and extend from the internal auditory canal into the CPA. In contrast, cystic CMs that arise in the CPA and do not involve the internal auditory canal and dura of the skull base are extremely rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 50-year-old man presented with vertigo and progressive hearing loss in the right ear. MRI examination revealed a lesion in the CPA with solid and cystic components. Surgery was performed. Well-circumscribed adhesion to cranial nerves, the cerebellum, or the brain stem was noted during surgery. The lesion was totally resected. Pathological examination suggested the lesion to be a CM. At 1-year follow-up, the symptoms at presentation had resolved and no complications had occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although cystic CMs of the CPA have no established imaging features, a diagnosis of CMs may be suspected when a cystic lesion is present in the CPA and does not involve internal acoustic meatus or dura mater of the skull base. Skillful microsurgical techniques and monitoring of cranial nerves will secure good outcomes for patients with cystic CMs in the CPA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, PR China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Limei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jinlu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000473:pathology*; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged