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Giant brainstem cavernoma in pediatrics: diagnosis and treatment-case report
María Eugenia Badaloni1, Javier Danilo Gonzalez Ramos2
1Garrahan Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. euge.badaloni@gmail.com.
Insights
Pediatric brainstem cavernomas are rare vascular malformations. Experts recommend monitoring, but surgery may be needed for emergencies or acute phases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Vascular Malformations
Background:
- Brain cavernomas (cavernous angiomas) are rare vascular malformations, particularly in pediatric patients (<5% of all vascular malformations).
- Typically located in cerebral hemispheres (cortico-subcortical), they can also occur in the brainstem.
Observation:
- This case study focuses on a pediatric patient with a giant brainstem cavernoma at J.P. Garrahan Hospital.
- Methods included retrieving the patient's clinical history and conducting a PubMed literature search.
Findings:
- The study describes the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of this rare pediatric brainstem cavernoma case.
- Literature review and expert consensus support close monitoring due to the eloquence and accessibility challenges of the brainstem.
Implications:
- An expectant approach is generally advised for pediatric brainstem cavernomas.
- Surgical intervention is reserved for emergency situations or post-acute phases to achieve complete resolution.
Introduction:
Brain cavernomas or cavernous angiomas are a rare vascular malformation in the general population, even more so in pediatric patients. Their incidence in this group is less than 5% of all vascular malformations. They are typically found in the cerebral hemispheres in cortico-subcortical locations and, more rarely, in the brainstem.
Objective:
To describe the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a case involving a pediatric patient with a giant cavernoma in the brainstem at J.P. Garrahan Hospital.
Materials And Methods:
The clinical history of the case was retrieved from the database of J.P. Garrahan Pediatric Hospital. Additionally, a literature search was conducted in high-impact factor journals using the PubMed database.
Conclusion:
Both the authors of this study and experts consulted through the literature agree that, given the eloquence of the affected area and its challenging accessibility, close monitoring and an expectant approach are advisable for such patients. Nevertheless, when the onset of the case warrants it, surgical intervention is deemed necessary in emergency situations and following the acute phase for complete resolution of the pathology.
