Treatment and outcome of children with cerebral cavernomas: a survey on 32 patients

Neurol Sci. 2010 Apr;31(2):117-23. doi: 10.1007/s10072-009-0157-0. Epub 2009 Oct 16.

Abstract

We prospectively followed-up 32 pediatric patients with cerebral cavernomas (CCs) to better define surgical indications in this population. Three groups of patients were identified: (a) children with macrohemorrhage (21 patients, 65.6%), (b) children with localized or diffuse headache (6 patients, 18.8%) and (c) children with epilepsy (5 patients, 15.6%). Surgery was performed in 28 out of the 32 (87.5%) subjects. New transient post-operative neurological deficits were observed in two children. One child developed a post-operative hematoma. At a median follow-up of 4 years (range 1-11 years), 22 out of the 28 (78.6%) operated patients were in good conditions. All operated subjects with epilepsy were seizure-free. We confirm the high risk of macrohemorrhage in pediatric CCs. Surgery is mostly recommended in accessible cavernomas, except for small, asymptomatic deep-seated CCs or for punctuate lesions without bleeding signs.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / surgery
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / complications
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epilepsy / genetics
  • Epilepsy / pathology
  • Epilepsy / therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / genetics
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk
  • Seizures / genetics
  • Seizures / pathology
  • Seizures / therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome