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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2024; 34(03): 511-521
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779587
Review Article

Giant Intracranial Cavernous Malformations: A Review on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics

Mustafa Kemal Demir 
1   Clinic of Radiology, Bahcesehir University Goztepe Medical Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Deniz Kılıc 
2   Department of Neurosurgery, Bahcesehir University School of Medicine, Göztepe Medical Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Emre Zorlu 
2   Department of Neurosurgery, Bahcesehir University School of Medicine, Göztepe Medical Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Turker Kılıc 
2   Department of Neurosurgery, Bahcesehir University School of Medicine, Göztepe Medical Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Background Intracranial cavernous malformations (CMs), commonly known as cavernomas or cavernous angiomas, are low-flow, well-circumscribed vascular lesions composed of sinusoidal spaces lined by a single layer of endothelium and separated by a collagenous matrix without elastin, smooth muscle, or other vascular wall elements. A diameter greater than 3 cm for a CM is unlikely. These lesions may have atypical appearances on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI with advanced techniques such as a susceptibility-weighted image or T2-gradient echo, a diffusion-weighted image and corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient map, and diffusion tensor tractography have revolutionized the diagnostic approach to these lesions.

Materials and Method The present study reviews the etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, MRI strategy, and MRI appearances of the CMs, with a few examples of the giant CMs from our archive.

Results Intracranial giant CMs may have unexpected locations, sizes, numbers, and varied imaging appearances due to repeated hemorrhages, unusual enhancement patterns, intense perifocal edema, and unusual associations, making the differential diagnosis difficult.

Conclusion Familiarity with the MRI appearances of the giant intracranial CMs and the differential diagnosis improves diagnostic accuracy and patient management.

Keywords

cavernous malformation - cavernoma - cavernous angioma - giant - magnetic resonance imaging


Publication History

Article published online:
28 February 2024

© 2024. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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