[Cavernous angiomas in the Department of Neurosurgery in Katowice]

166 patients with arterio-venous malformations (AVM) were treated in the Department of Neurosurgery at Silesian School of Medicine from 1987 to 2002. There were 30 (18%) patients diagnosed as cavernous angioma (CA). The oldest treated patient was 73 years old and the youngest one was 5 years old. 16 (55%) male and 14 (45%) female were examined and the results of this examination are presented below. The location of CA was as follows: supratentorially--19 patients (64%), infratentorially--6 patients (20%), extracranially--5 patients (16%). During the admission the clinical status of patients were evaluated according to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Hunt-Hess scale (H-H). Epilepsy occurred in 5 patients (16%), neurological focal deficits--14 (45%), intracranial hemorrhage--7 (23%). All patients were examined using CT (computer tomography) scan, cerebral angiography was carried out in 15 (50%) patients and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in 16 (55%). All patients were operated on in our medical centre. The results of treatment were presented according to Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS).