Cavernous Malformations

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Diagnosis

Cavernous malformations usually are not diagnosed until they start causing symptoms. When possible symptoms appear, your child's doctor may recommend a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which remains the best way to diagnose cavernous malformations.

MRI scans may be repeated over the course of your child's treatment to detect any change in the size of the malformation, recent bleeding and the appearance of new lesions. MRI is a non-invasive procedure that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to construct pictures of the body.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated August 15, 2007