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Case Reports
. 2015 Dec 7;3(2):153.
doi: 10.2484/rcr.v3i2.153. eCollection 2008.

Coincident Giant Cavernous Angioma and Large Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm

Case Reports

Coincident Giant Cavernous Angioma and Large Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm

Tom D Newton et al. Radiol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Cavernous angiomas although relatively common lesions rarely reach a large size. They have a well documented association with AVMs, capillary telangiectases and venous angiomas but are not specifically associated with intracerebral aneurysms. We present a case of what we believe to be the 4th largest reported giant cavernous angioma to present in adulthood. This cavernous angioma also happened to be associated with a large intracerebral aneurysm, an association not previously reported. The sometimes confusing nomenclature of cavernous angiomas and other similar vascular malformations is also discussed.

Keywords: AVM, arteriovenous malformation; CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

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Figures

Figure 1A
Figure 1A
43-year-old woman with worsening left-sided headaches. Post-contrast CT scan shows left MCA aneurysm.
Figure 1B
Figure 1B
43-year-old woman with worsening left-sided headaches. Post-contrast CT scan shows left cavernous angioma.
Figure 2A
Figure 2A
43-year-old woman with worsening left-sided headaches. Axial T2W images demonstrate MCA aneurysm which was originally mistaken for a “tumour nodule.”
Figure 2B
Figure 2B
43-year-old woman with worsening left-sided headaches. Axial T2W images demonstrate typical features of a cavernous angioma with a mixed signal core, complete haemosiderin rim, and blooming susceptibility effect.
Figure 3A
Figure 3A
43-year-old woman with worsening left-sided headaches. Axial T1W pre-contrast (gradient echo) MRI. Note the marked heterogeneity within the cavernous angioma, the high signal change which is consistent with blood products.
Figure 3B
Figure 3B
43-year-old woman with worsening left-sided headaches. Axial T1W post-contrast (spin-echo) MRI. No contrast enhancement is demonstrated.
Figure 4
Figure 4
43-year-old woman with worsening left-sided headaches. T1W post-contrast coronal MRI clearly demonstrating the non-enhancing cavernoma and the immediately subjacent enhancing aneurysm.
Figure 5
Figure 5
43-year-old woman with worsening left-sided headaches. Selective left internal carotid artery angiogram clearly depicting the large left middle cerebral artery aneurysm. The cavernous angioma is angiographically occult.

References

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