J Cerebrovasc Endovasc Neurosurg.  2015 Mar;17(1):32-35. 10.7461/jcen.2015.17.1.32.

Two Cases of Cavernous Malformation Presenting with Unusual and Large Intracerebral Hemorrhages

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. jhwang@knu.ac.kr

Abstract

Cavernous malformations (CMs), characterized by the presence of a hemosiderin rim and intralesional hemorrhage, are relatively common intracranial vascular malformations. Extralesional hemorrhages arising from CMs are seen in a minority of cases, but most of them show typical CM findings on magnetic resonance imaging. Here, the authors report two cases of pathologically confirmed CM presenting with unusual and large intracerebral hemorrhages, which were not surrounded by the typical hemosiderin rim. CMs presenting with large intracerebral hemorrhage should be considered in the differential diagnosis of massive intracerebral hemorrhages.

Keyword

Cavernous malformation; Hemosiderin; Intracerebral hemorrhage; Magnetic resonance imaging

MeSH Terms

Cerebral Hemorrhage*
Diagnosis, Differential
Hemorrhage
Hemosiderin
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Vascular Malformations
Hemosiderin

Figure

  • Fig. 1 (A) Axial computed tomography scan shows a hemorrhagic intraaxial lesion in the right frontal lobe. (B-D) Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates mixed intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images and slight enhancement after intravenous gadolinium injection. (E,F) Histopathologic findings reveal dilated, thin-walled capillaries having an endothelial lining consisting of one layer of cells, and a variable layer of fibrous adventitia without intervening neural tissue. (Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain ×40,×100)

  • Fig. 2 (A-D) Magnetic resonance imaging shows a mixed signal of acute and subacute hematoma, and no enhanced lesion after intravenous gadolinium injection. (E, F) Histopathological findings demonstrate interconnecting thin membranous vascular channels without muscle layer and many hemosiderin-laden macrophages (arrowhead). (Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain ×40,×100)


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