Cerebral cavernous malformations and epilepsy

Abstract

Seizures and epilepsy are frequent clinical manifestations of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) and represent the most common symptomatic presentation of supratentorial lesions. Clinicians often diagnose CCMs in patients after a first seizure, or in some cases after obtaining neuroimaging studies in patients suffering from chronic epilepsy previously thought to be idiopathic. In some cases, the lesion is clinically significant solely because of its epileptogenicity, but in others there may be concern about potential hemorrhage or focal neurological deficits from a similar lesion. The authors present current pathophysiological concepts related to epilepsy associated with CCMs. They discuss the spectrum of seizure disorders associated with these lesions and review the natural history, prognosis, and options for therapeutic intervention.