Richard E. Clatterbuck, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Neurological Surgery Cavernous Malformations, Venous Malformations, and Capillary Telangiectasias Richard E. Clatterbuck, M.D., Ph.D. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Cavernous Malformations Abnormal vascular channels lined by endothelial cells (cells that line all blood vessels) but lacking other components of typical blood vessel walls Have been described as having an appearance similar to mulberries
AKA Cavernous angioma Cavernous hemangioma Cerebral angioma Cavernoma Cavmals CCMs (cerebral cavernous malformations)
Radiographic Appearance Classically described as a “popcorn” lesion with a reticulated appearance on MRI scans
Epidemiology Occur in 0.5% of the population (1 in 200 people) and may represent 10% of vascular malformations Perhaps slightly more prevalent in females, 1.8:1 in our series
Presentation Mean age 34.6 years (7.8-78.5) Average of 3.4 lesions per patient, solitary in 63% and multiple in 25% 19% had venous malformations 4% had capillary telangiectasias Headache (65%), seizures (49%), focal deficits (46%), hemorrhage (13%), asymptomatic (1.5%)
Hemorrhage rates 3.1% per patient year hemorrhage rate 0.9% in males 4.2% in females No difference in lesions in the cerebrum or brainstem
Seizure rates 4.8% per patient year 2.4% new onset seizure rate per patient year 5.5% recurrent seizure rate per patient year
Venous malformation Persistence of a developmentally expressed venous drainage pattern Classically described as a caput medusae appearance
AKA Developmental venous anomaly (DVA) Venous anomaly Venous angioma Venous malformation
Presentation Mean age 39.1 years (18.7-73) 19% had another cerebrovascular malformations Headache (50.8%), seizures (30.2%)
Hemorrhage rate 0.15% per lesion year
Capillary Telangiectasia Normal capillary structurally at the cellular level but abnormal in size, dramatically dilated
AKA Capillary malformations Captels
Presentation Much rarer lesions with unclear although certainly low hemorrhage rate Present throughout life but typically in 3rd or 4th decade Symptoms include headache, numbness, dizziness, visual disturbance
How are these related?
Cerebral Vascular Malformations Cavernous malformation Venous malformation Capillary telangiectasia