Giant Cervical Cavernous Malformation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Cervical spinal cord cavernous malformations are rare but can be neurologically devastating lesions and, when symptomatic, are best treated with gross total resection to prevent progressive neurologic decline related to recurrent hemorrhage. This patient had a large high cervical cord cavernous malformation with evidence of recent hemorrhage. A midline myelotomy was utilized to enter the cavernous malformation. The cavernous malformation was then circumferentially separated from the spinal parenchyma and removed in a piecemeal manner. Postoperative imaging confirmed gross total resection of the lesion with preservation of the surrounding spinal cord. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.