title: Brainstem cavernoma hemorrhage during pregnancy in a 15-year-old: description of a unique neurosurgical approach.
abstract: Cavernous haemangiomas, or cavernous malformations, have been reported during pregnancy, most of which have been either supratentorial or spinal lesions. We encountered a 15-year old pregnant patient with a rapidly progressive and haemorrhagic brainstem cavernous haemangioma. The case presented here describes the history and findings of this patient, as well as the less-commonly utilized technique we used to access the floor of the fourth ventricle via occipital craniotomy for complete macroscopic resection of this lesion, resulting in the gradual return of most of her neurological deficits.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Division of Neurosurgery, London Health Sciences Center, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Adrianna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ranger
authors.forename: Navjot
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avery
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lownie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome