Cavernous Malformations

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

At UCSF Children's Hospital, a team of experts specializing in malformations that affect blood vessels in the brain works together with you and your family to develop the best possible treatment plan for your child. This team includes a neurologist, neurosurgeon, and neuroradiologist.

Currently, the treatments available for cavernous malformations include observation, and surgery.

• Observation -- If your child's cavernous malformation does not seem to be causing any problems, your doctor may recommend that the malformation simply be observed with yearly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to detect any changes.

  However, it is impossible to predict what will happen with any cavernous malformation. Some will cause repeated hemorrhages with worsening symptoms such as headaches, seizures, difficulty speaking, vision problems or weakness in the arms or legs, while others remain inactive and do not cause symptoms for many years.

• Surgery -- Surgery is often recommended for the treatment of cavernous malformations. Because these malformations are so distinct from the surrounding brain tissue, they can at times be completely removed without causing any problems. It is very important to remove the entire malformation because it can grow back if a small piece is left behind. The risk of the operation depends on the size and location of the cavernous malformation and the general health of your child.

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