Intramedullary cavernous angiomas of the spinal cord: report of six cases

The authors report six cases of intramedullary cavernoma. Symptoms evolved by episodes of stepwise neurologic deterioration or slow progression. All patients had preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Removal of the cavernoma was total in all cases and in one a transthoracic approach was performed because of the ventral and superficial position of the lesion. At follow-up, ranging from 6 to 18 months, two patients improved, two were unchanged, and one had deteriorated. Prognosis was influenced by the length of clinical history and the severity of preoperative symptoms. The principal clinical and therapeutic aspects of cavernoma are discussed in light of the published data.