Oncological diseases are not uncommon now. Each year, the number of patients at oncologists will increase. A tumor can occur in any organ, while being asymptomatic for a long time. Each of us, of course, was faced with a headache, but how often do we attribute its appearance to fatigue, high blood pressure, or symptoms of osteochondrosis. Or maybe it's time to be examined and find out the real reason? After all, tumors are not only malignant, but also benign. What is a cavernoma of the brain, what are its causes and methods of treatment, we will consider further.
What is a cavernoma
The cavernoma has another name - cavernous angioma of the brain. This tumor is not associated with general blood flow and does not have a clear, organic and functional connection with it.
If you answer the question: "Brain cavernoma - what is it?", Then you can describe it like this. These are brain tumors in the form of vascular cavities of various forms. They contain blood breakdown products. Content may consist of connective tissue and blood clots, and some of the fragile and thin walls. The sizes of the cavernoma and their number can be very different. So several formations can freely separate from each other, and can adjoin one another closely.
Externally, the cavern has a tuberous surface with a bluish tint. It has a clear outline, most often rounded, and delimited from nearby tissues. At the same time, there are gross changes in the adjacent tissues. The yellowish color will be the brain substance that surrounds the cavern, this is a sign that there were hemorrhages.
Where can a cavern be located?
Localization of the neoplasm
Cavernous angioma of the brain can be found in any part of it. The following places of its localization can be distinguished:
- The cerebral cortex is the most common.
- Thalamus
- Corpus callosum.
- Ventricles of the brain.
- The trunk of the brain.
Causes of Cavern
Most often, a cavern of the brain is a congenital mass. A benign tumor is soft and elastic when pressed. When pressed, it disappears, but then again takes its original shape, it can bleed, which will subsequently cause infection.
The reason for the appearance during fetal development is a violation of the structural and functional transformation of tissue cells. The connection of veins with arteries at the initial stage of intrauterine development gives rise to this disease.
The cause may be soft tissue injury, which will initiate the formation of a vascular neoplasm.
It is also believed that the formation of cavernoma can contribute to:
- Infectious pathologies during the bearing of the baby.
- Immune inflammatory factors.
- Radiation exposure.
How to recognize a disease? What symptoms are characteristic of it?
Symptoms of Cavernous Brain Angioma
As a rule, a disease such as a cavernoma of the brain is asymptomatic. The patient is not worried, there are no suspicious symptoms. Often a neoplasm is detected during a routine examination. But of course, the symptomatology largely depends on the localization of the cavernoma and its size. It is noted that manifestations are pronounced in patients with a cavern in the brain stem, in the left or right temporal lobe, in the frontal lobe.
The clinical picture of the disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Headaches of a permanent nature.
- Epileptic syndrome.
- Convulsions appear.
- Vomiting
- Sensitivity is disturbed.
- Hearing loss is lost.
- Paralysis.
If the headache intensifies, then there is a chance of a rupture of the cavernoma wall. The risk of hemorrhage is too high. In such patients, it is 4-23%, and if the patient suffers hemorrhage repeatedly, then in 30% of cases it causes disability.
The consequences of pathology
The consequences of the brain cavernoma are associated primarily with neurological disorders. And also these are focal brain lesions. The tumor compresses the substance of the brain, and the symptoms mentioned above begin to develop. After hemorrhage occurs, the brain substance is impregnated with hemosiderin and other metabolic products. As a result, some functions are disabled. So, if the cavernoma is located in the frontal lobe, the development of such signs is possible:
- The patient loses practical skills.
- From a critical point of view, he cannot evaluate himself and others.
If a lesion of the left or right temporal lobe occurs, and the lobe is dominant, namely in the right-handed person - the left, in the left-handed person - the right one, the following symptoms may appear:
- Loss of field of view.
- Hearing impairment.
- The ability to pronounce words is impaired.
If the lesion is not in the dominant region of the temporal lobe, the following disorders are characteristic:
- The appearance of auditory hallucinations.
In any case, if the lesion is localized in the temporal region, the development of mental disorders is characteristic.
Also, with the late detection of pathology in the cavernoma, the inflammatory process or dystrophic changes begin, with the following possible consequences:
- Hemorrhage.
- Cerebrovascular accident.
- Vascular rupture and impaired local blood flow.
- Increased vascular congestion and caverns.
- Fatal outcome.
Diagnosis of cavernoma
Patients sometimes do not suspect that they have a brain cavernoma. What is this, they learn only after its discovery, while wondering that throughout its existence, it did not cause them any discomfort. After a diagnosis is made, it is necessary to be regularly observed by a doctor and monitor its development.
A brain cavernoma is diagnosed as a result of the following studies:
- CT scan.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- Angiography.
- EEG. The price of this service depends, of course, on which clinic or city the patient will undergo the procedure in, but if we talk about average values, then it is quite possible to keep within 1,500 rubles. But this is the most optimal method for determining the presence of epileptic seizures.
In the period of preparation of the patient for radiosurgical treatment, tractography is used to calculate the necessary dose of radiation.
Contraindications for cavernous
I would like to note that such a disease as a cavernoma of the brain does not allow therapy with folk remedies and self-medication. Since this at times increases the risk of hemorrhage or rupture of blood vessels.
It is also impermissible to influence the tumor with physiotherapeutic procedures, massages, etc., that is, apply all those methods that stimulate blood circulation.
It is recommended to do an MRI and EEG to monitor the cavern regularly. The price of such services may show some to be quite high, however, it’s not worth it once again, we hope to remind you that, in turn, health is completely priceless.
About treatment
Cavernoma is not amenable to drug therapy. Surgical intervention required. It is advisable to remove the tumor. However, this is not always possible due to its location. Also, the patient may be opposed, if he does not interfere with the cavern. An operation is not required in this case, but the risks remain. The patient should still remain under the supervision of a neurologist.
If the patient has epileptic seizures, anticonvulsants are treated. However, in the future, such patients are recommended surgical disposal of the neoplasm.
Cavernomas located in the deep layers of the brain and not subject to surgical removal are very dangerous. Research Institute of Neurosurgery named after Burdenko.
There are frequent situations when doctors recommend removing the neoplasm using various methods.
When surgery is needed
Doctors insist on removing the cavernoma if:
- The tumor provokes epileptic seizures, convulsions.
- Located near vital areas.
- A cavernome is authorizing neurological disorders and repeated hemorrhages.
- The tumor is large and located in a functionally significant area.
In this case, the doctor should consider:
- The age of the patient.
- The shape and size of the tumor.
- The course of the disease and related diseases.
- How long was the hemorrhage.
If the tumor cannot be removed surgically, there are other modern methods of removal.
Cavernoma Removal Techniques
Consider what other methods for removing cavernomas of the brain, in addition to the traditional surgical, exist:
- Radiosurgery. Gamma knife. Apply to hard to reach tumors. There is no risk of hemorrhage. The tumor is completely eliminated.
- Laser Therapy Applied when removing surface cavern. Minimal risk of bleeding and scarring.
- Cryotherapy. Apply liquid nitrogen to superficially located neoplasms.
All these techniques are used to remove cavernomas in the Research Institute of Neurosurgery. Burdenko. To apply this or that method in each individual case, a decision is made at a medical consultation after a thorough examination of the patient.
Postoperative Recovery
Recovery procedures should begin as early as possible in order to eliminate human disability. Some functions will not be possible to restore.
Recovery after surgery should be carried out by experienced professionals. Need advice and help:
- Surgeon
- The psychologist.
- The doctor of exercise therapy.
- Physiotherapist.
- Speech therapist.
- Chemotherapist.
- Instructor LFK.
- Junior attendants.
In the postoperative period, it is necessary to do an MRI, and then repeat after 4-6 months. This will help make sure that the cavernous angioma of the brain is completely removed.
The better and more productive the rehabilitation process will be, the faster the lost functions will be restored. Each patient needs an individual rehabilitation program. At the initial stage, all classes take place in a passive mode, and if there are no complications, you can expand the program.
Prognosis for the patient
Doctors note that the removal of the cavernoma during its progression for six months has a better prognosis. In 70%, hemorrhages stop, in 55% of patients with epileptic syndrome, the attacks subside or completely disappear.
If the epileptic syndrome developed as a result of cavernoma for a longer time, then the effectiveness of treatment is reduced.
To remove cavernoma, most often at this stage they use the radiosurgical method of treatment. The main thing is not to miss the time, then the opportunity to restore lost functions and reduce the risk of hemorrhage increases.