Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Venous malformation in the posterior fossa: Guidelines for treatment

  • Clinical Articles
  • Published:
Acta Neurochirurgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Venous malformations in the posterior fossa are relatively rare. Although the introduction of CT and MRI has made them easier to detect, their treatment is still controversial. Based on our experience with six patients and a review of the literature, we have tried to establish guidelines for their treatment. Since they have a benign natural course and may provide venous drainage in the posterior fossa, venous malformation found incidentally, unruptured venous malformation with nonhaemorrhagic complications, and those accompanied by small intracerebellar haematoma of less than 2 cm in diameter due to their rupture, should be treated conservatively unless they are associated with a coexistent malformation. Venous malformation with intracerebellar haematoma larger than 3 cm or reexpansion of the haematoma due to rebleeding should be treated surgically by evacuation of the haematoma. Resection of venous malformations in the posterior fossa should be restricted to cases in which the malformation is small and does not serve as a functional venous drainage route. Radiation therapy, including the “gammaknife”, may be a treatment of choice in the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abe M, Asfora WT, De Salles AAF,et al (1990) Cerebellar venous angioma associated with angiographically occult brain stem vascular malformation. Report of two cases. Surg Neurol 33: 400–403

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Augustyn GT, Scott JA, Olson E,et al (1985) Cerebral venous angiomas: MR imaging. Radiology 156: 391–395

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Biller J, Toffol GL, Shea JF,et al (1985) Cerebellar venous angiomas. A continuing controversy. Arch Neurol 42: 367–370

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Fierstein SB, Pribram HW, Hieshima G (1979) Angiography and computed tomography in the evaluation of cerebral venous malformation. Neuroradiology 17: 137–148

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Garner TB, Curling OD Jr, Kelly DL Jr,et al (1991) The natural history of intracranial venous angiomas. J Neurosurg 75: 715–722

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Goldberg HI, Grossman RI, Levine RS,et al (1985) Association of venous and cavernous angiomas. AJNR 6: 465 (abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Goulao A, Albarez H, Monaco RG,et al (1990) Venous anomalies and abnormalities of the posterior fossa. Neuroradiology 31: 476–482

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hardjasudarma M (1991) Cavernous and venous angiomas of the central nervous system. J Neuroimaging 1: 191–196

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hashimoto M, Yokota A, Kajiwara H,et al (1990) Venous angioma treated by radiation. Case report. Neuroradiology 31: 537–540

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hashimoto M, Yokota A, Kajiwara H,et al (1990) Venous angioma: follow-up study and therapeutic considerations. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 30: 599–603

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hirata Y, Matsukado Y, Nagahiro S,et al (1986) Intracerebral venous angioma with arterial blood supply: a mixed angioma. Surg Neurol 25: 227–232

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Inagawa T, Taguchi H, Yamada T (1985) Surgical intervention in ruptured venous angioma — case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 25: 559–563

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ishizaka H, Moroki J, Kuwahara M,et al (1984) Venous angioma of the posterior fossa. Report of two cases. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 24: 600–606

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jannetta PJ (1979) Microsurgery of cranial nerve cross-compression. Clin Neurosurg 26: 607–615

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Maehara T, Tasaka A (1978) Cerebral venous angioma: computerized tomography and angiographic diagnosis. Neuroradiology 16: 296–298

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Malik GM, Morgan JK, Boulos RS,et al (1988) Venous angiomas: an underestimated cause of intracranial hemorrhage. Surg Neurol 30: 350–358

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. McCormick WF, Hardman JM, Boutler TR (1968) Vascular malformations (angiomas) of the brain with special reference to those occurring in the posterior fossa. J Neurosurg 8: 241–245

    Google Scholar 

  18. Moritake K, Handa H, Mori K,et al (1980) Venous angiomas of the brain. Surg Neurol 14: 95–105

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Nagata K, Kubo T, Fukushima T (1983) Four cases of cerebral venous angioma — with particular reference to the operative indication and the importance of CT diagnosis. No Shinkei Geka (Jpn) 11: 1201–1208

    Google Scholar 

  20. Numaguchi Y, Kitamura K, Fukui M,et al (1982) Intracranial venous angiomas. Surg Neurol 18: 193–202

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Odom GL, Tindall GT, Dukes HT (1961) Cerebellar hematoma caused by angiomatous malformations. J Neurosurg 18: 777–782

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Olson E, Gilmor RL, Richmond B (1984) Cerebral venous angiomas. Radiology 151: 97–104

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Partain CL, Guinto FC, Scatliff JH,et al (1974) Cerebral venous angioma: correlation of radionuclide brain scan, transmission computed tomography and angiography. J Nucl Med 20: 1166–1169

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pelz DM, Vinuela F, Fox AJ (1983) Unusual radiologic and clinical presentations of posterior fossa venous angiograms. AJNR 4: 81–84

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Preissig RS, Preissig SH, Goree JA (1976) Angiographic demonstration of cerebral venous angioma. J Neurosurg 44: 628–631

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rigamonti D, Spetzler RF (1988) The association of venous and cavernous malformations. Report of four cases and discussion of the pathophysiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 92: 100–105

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rigamonti D, Spetzler RF, Drayer BP,et al (1988) Appearance of venous malformations on magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurosurg 69: 535–539

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Rigamonti D, Spetzler RF, Medina M,et al (1990) Cerebral venous malformations. J Neurosurg 73: 560–564

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Rothfus WE, Albright LA, Casey KF,et al (1984) Cerebellar venous angioma: “benign” entity? AJNR 5: 61–66

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Rothfus WE, Albright AL, Casey KF,et al (1984) Surgery mandated for bleeding venous angiomas? AJNR 5: 652 (reply to letter)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Saito Y, Kobayashi N (1981) Cerebral venous angiomas. Radiology 139: 87–94

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Scott JA, Augustyn GT, Gilmor RL,et al (1985) Magnetic resonance imaging of a venous angioma. AJNR 6: 284–286

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Senegor M, Dohrmann GJ, Wollman RL (1983) Venous angiomas of the posterior fossa should be considered as anomalous venous drainage. Surg Neurol 19: 26–32

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Toffol GJ, Biller J, Shea JH,et al (1984) Surgery mandated for bleeding venous angiomas? AJNR 5: 652 (letter to editor)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Tomura N, Inugami A, Higano S,et al (1990) A case of medullary venous malformations with an arterial component co-existing with arteriovenous malformations. Surg Neurol 33: 37–42

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Vincent FH, Bartone JR, Tones MZ (1980) Cerebellar astrocytoma presenting as a cerebellar hemorrhage in a child. Neurology 30: 91–93

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Yamasaki T, Handa H, Yamashita J,et al (1984) Intracranial cavernous angioma angiographically mimicking venous angioma in an infant. Surg Neurol 22: 461–466

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Yoshida S, Kobayashi S, Saito I,et al (1979) Diagnosis and treatment of cerebellar hemorrhage: Comparison of hypertensive hemorrhage with hemorrhage caused by small angiomas, and CT findings. Brain Nerve (Jpn) 31: 687–693

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan

    K. Mori, M. Seike, M. Kurisaka, Y. Kamimura & M. Morimoto

Authors
  1. K. Mori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Seike
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Kurisaka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Y. Kamimura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Morimoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mori, K., Seike, M., Kurisaka, M. et al. Venous malformation in the posterior fossa: Guidelines for treatment. Acta neurochir 126, 107–112 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01476418

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01476418

Keywords

Search

Navigation