[Dural cavernous angioma:a case report and review of the literature]

Here, we report a case of dural cavernous angioma. A 54-year-old man presented with headache in his right frontal area for the previous few weeks. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-demarcated extramedullary mass, 3 x 2.5cm in size, within the subdural space at the right frontal region. The mass was not enhanced on a contrast-enhanced CT scan, and heterogeneously enhanced after administration of Gd-DTPA on magnetic resonance images. Cerebral angiography revealed an avascular mass. Right frontal craniotomy was performed. On surgery, the mass was found to be mainly extramedullar, and partially intramedullar. No adhesion between the mass and the overlying dura was observed. It was removed in an en bloc fashion. The pathological diagnosis was cavernous angioma. The patient's headache was resolved soon after surgery. Cavernous angiomas are usually intramedullar in the subcortical white matter of the cerebral hemispheres;extramedullary cavernous angiomas are rare. Extramedullary dural cavernous angiomas located in the subdural space at the cerebral convexity are extremely rare. They usually present with headache or mass signs, and resemble meningioma radiologically. During surgery they are easily resected with minimal blood loss. Dural cavernous angiomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intradural extramedullary mass at the cerebral convexity.