What is brain stem cavernoma?

A cavernoma is a cluster of abnormal blood vessels, usually found in the brain and spinal cord. They’re sometimes known as cavernous angiomas, cavernous hemangiomas, or cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM). A typical cavernoma looks like a raspberry.

Is a cavernoma a brain tumor?

When you hear the terms cavernoma, cavernous angioma, cavernous hemangioma, or cavernous malformation, they are one in the same. CCM is also a benign vascular brain tumor. It is estimated that 1 in 100 people, or 3.5 million Americans, are affected by CCM, most of whom have no known genetic abnormality.

Are cavernomas serious?

Since the walls of cavernomas are weak, blood can leak out. Cavernomas can occur in the brain and on the spinal cord. While a cavernous angioma may not affect function, it can cause seizures, stroke symptoms, hemorrhages, and headaches.

What is a cavernous?

Cavernous malformations are clusters of abnormal, tiny blood vessels and larger, stretched-out, thin-walled blood vessels filled with blood and located in the brain. These blood vessel malformations can also occur in the spinal cord, the covering of the brain (dura) or the nerves of the skull.

Do cavernomas need to be removed?

Most cavernomas do not need surgery. If you aren’t having symptoms, your healthcare provider will use MRI to monitor for any changes in your cavernoma.

Can stress cause a cavernoma to bleed?

Living with a cavernoma. Symptoms caused by cavernoma are many and specific to the individual. You may find that many symptoms are made worse if you are tired, under stress or ill. This is particularly so if you experience seizures, headaches or have bled from the cavernoma.

Can cavernoma cause death?

Many people never know that they have one. In some people, however, the lesions can burst and bleed into the brain, causing neurologic problems, including stroke and, in rare instances, death.

Do cavernomas cause headaches?

Cavernous malformations can happen anywhere in the body. They most commonly produce symptoms when they are found in the brain and spinal cord. These clusters of blood vessels (lesions) can be less than 1/4 inch to 4 inches in size. Common symptoms include headaches or seizures.

Is a cavernoma a stroke?

A cavernous malformation is a rare type of vascular malformation, and those who have it are at risk of suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. 1 More specifically, a cavernous malformation is a small nest of abnormal blood vessels located inside the tissue of a given body organ, such as bone, intestine or brain.

Does cavernoma cause fatigue?

There are some people who have symptomatic cavernomas, which can cause many different symptoms such as seizures, stroke-like symptoms and fatigue, however, a lot of cavernomas are asymptomatic.