Posterior Fossa Haematomas Secondary to Occult Angiomatous Malformation (Cavernomas)

Abstract

Although Luschka [2] in 1854 gave a description of what appears to have been an intracranial cavernoma, the first clear description of the entity was in 1928 by Walter Dandy [1]. The true frequency of symptomatic cavernomas remains hard to establish, but they are uncommon and probably represent only some 5%–13% of all CNS vascular anomalies, and estimates for the proposition below the tentorium vary from 10% to 23%. This report deals with our findings in 13 cases of brainstem haematoma related to confirmed cavernoma in 9 and probable cavernoma in the others, 12 lying within the brainstem and 1 in the superior vermis of the cerebellum. All were managed by direct microsurgical approach with evacuation of the haematoma and, in the majority of instances, verification of abnormal vessels consistent with cavernoma within the wall [5].