[Supratentorial cavernomas: clinical picture, diagnosis, treatment]

The study was undertaken to examine the clinical picture, diagnosis, morphology and substantiate management policy for patients with supratentorial cavernomas. Examination was made in 160 patients with this abnormality, 87 of them were operated on. The histological structure of cavernomas was shown to be heterogeneous. Different types of their clinical course are analyzed and the optimum diagnostic criteria of the diseases substantiated. Removal of supratentorial cavernomas is the method of choice, which eliminates a risk for rehemorrhage and positively affects the course of the convulsive syndrome. Exceptions are the cavernomas that are located in the functionally important brain regions difficult to reach. In these cases, the indication for surgery may be severe rehemorrhage or drug-untreated frequent seizures. Removal of cavernomas does not rule out a long-term use of anticonvulsants. They may be discontinued only on the basis of clinical and electroencephalographic control.