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Cavernoma: New Insights From an Unusual Case
Giannis Sokratous1, Ismail Ughratdar2, Richard Selway1
1Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
World Neurosurgery
|April 6, 2017
Summary
Rapidly growing cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are rare but can indicate high-grade glioma. This suggests chronic inflammation from CCM microbleeds may contribute to malignant transformation.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Vascular Neurology
Background:
- Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular malformations.
- Rapid growth of CCMs is uncommon.
Observation:
- A literature review identified 4 female patients (ages 25-71) with CCMs that rapidly grew and developed high-grade gliomas at the same site.
- A case report details a 71-year-old female with a rapidly expanding cavernoma that histologically revealed an coexisting glioblastoma.
Findings:
- Rapid expansion of a CCM lesion is a potential indicator of malignant transformation.
- The development of high-grade glioma within a CCM is a rare event.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider the possibility of malignancy in cases of rapidly expanding CCMs.
- Chronic inflammation and hemosiderin deposition from CCM microbleeds may promote tumor development.