[Treatments strategies for intracranial cavernomas]

Cerebral cavernomatous malformations (CCM) are a subgroup of low-pressure cerebral vascular malformation. They have an estimated prevalence of 0,1-4% of the population and account for 8-15% of all cerebral vascular malformations. Depending on their size and localization (supratentorial or infratentorial, brain stem), CCM may present with focal bleedings with or without neurological deficits, as epileptic seizures, or are diagnosed incidentally by MRI performed for unspecific symptoms (e.g. headache, vertigo), especially in younger patients (mostly in 2nd or 3rd decade). The decision-making in patients with CCM can be classified into four categories: surgical or conservative treatment of symptomatic or incidental lesions. The decision regarding the optimal therapy in the individual patient must be made in the knowledge of the natural history (risk for bleeding or epilepsy) on the one hand, and the surgical possibilities (accessibility of the lesion) including their estimated outcome on the other hand. Therefore, careful patient selection and appropriate experience of the centre is warranted in the management of CCM.