Cavernous angioma

Hemangioma, cavernoma, malformation are all names of a very dangerous disease, like cavernous angioma. The disease is a vascular defect, mostly of a congenital nature.

Pathology can be detected at any age by accident, or manifested by severe neurological disorders.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Causes of the cavernous angioma

Cavernous angioma can be congenital or sporadic. The pathogenesis of the congenital type of disease is considered more studied. At the moment there are evidence of autosomal dominant type of inheritance, and certain genes of the seventh chromosome have been identified and identified, which, mutating, cause the formation of pathological vascular bundles.

Experiments with the detected genes have demonstrated that the formation of cavernous angiomas is predetermined by the disorder of the formation of endothelial cell structures. It is assumed that proteins encoded by specific genes function in one direction.

The causes of sporadic angiomas have not yet been identified. There are only theoretical guesses put forward by many scientists. However, there is currently no clear evidence of such theories:

• the theory of radio-induced formations that arose as a result of irradiation;
• Immune-inflammatory, infectious theory of pathology.

[5], [6], [7]

Pathogenesis

The diameter of angiomas can be very different - from a few millimeters to several centimeters. The most common type of education is about 20-30 mm in size.

Malformation can be localized in any part of the central nervous system:

• 80% of angiomas are located in the upper parts of the brain;
• 65% of them are located in the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes;
• 15% falls on the vascular structures of the visual hillock, basal ganglia;
• 8% is the cerebellar angioma;
• 2.5% vascular plexus in the spinal cord.

[8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15],

Symptoms of the cavernous angioma

The symptomatology of the disease mainly depends on where the education is located. Some of the more characteristic features are epileptic seizures in conjunction with acute or subacute neurologic symptoms. The first signs can appear simultaneously with cerebral manifestations, and also independently:

• headache, which at first can be weak and transient, subsequently developing into a strong one, which is not eliminated by usual medication;
• convulsive seizures reminiscent of epileptic;
• sensation of noise or ringing inside the head or in the ears;
• shaky gait, motor coordination disorders;
• Dyspeptic disorders in the form of attacks of nausea and vomiting;
• development of paralysis, weakness and numbness of the limbs;
• deterioration of visual and auditory function, memory disorder, attention, speech disturbance, confusion in thoughts.

Often there are cases when cavernous hemangioma does not show any signs. A large number of people can live without even guessing about their disease. In such patients, the disease is found in the diagnosis of other pathologies, in conducting preventive studies, or in detecting angiomas in the immediate family.

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Forms

As we have already said, the symptoms of cavernous angioma largely depend on the location of the vascular formation and its size. Manifestations of the disease occur when a bundle of vessels begins to press on surrounding tissues and nerve endings in certain areas of the brain.

• The cavernous angioma of the frontal lobe, in addition to the standard symptoms, can be accompanied by disorders of self-regulation of mental activity. The fact is that the frontal areas of the brain are responsible for motivating, setting and implementing goals, controlling their actions and evaluating the result. Patients deteriorate memory, handwriting changes, uncontrolled excess movements of limbs appear.
  • The cavernous angioma of the left frontal lobe gives such a symptom as a violation of the regulation of speech: the person's lexicon becomes poor, he forgets words, while speaking extremely reluctantly; there is apathy and there is no initiative.
  • The cavernous angioma of the right frontal lobe, in contrast, is characterized by excessive speech activity. The patient can periodically enter into a state of affect, it becomes emotional and at times even inadequate. The mood of the patient is more positive - often he does not realize the appearance of his illness.
• The cavernous angioma of the left temporal lobe is accompanied by hearing and speech impairments. The patient badly remembers, worse perceives someone else's speech by ear. In this speech, he often and unconsciously repeats the same words several times.

The cavernous angioma of the right temporal lobe can be manifested by the following signs:

• the patient ceases to determine the belonging of sounds, can not know the origin of this or that noise. The same goes for voices: a previously familiar voice may seem alien.

Cavernous angioma of the parietal lobe is often characterized by so-called intellectual disorders. The patient loses the ability to solve simple mathematical problems, forgets the elementary rules of division-multiplication, subtraction and addition. Logic and the ability to think technically are lost.

Cavernous angioma of the cerebellum sometimes occurs with severe symptoms - it is the uncertainty of the gait and even the sitting, inadequate positions of the head and body (strange inclinations, postures). Noticeable violation of speech function, nystagmus, cramps, contractures.

• Thrombotic cavernous angioma is usually caused by an infectious disease that spreads mainly from the sinuses and nasal cavity. Symptoms include fever, weakness, hyperhidrosis, fever. All this takes place simultaneously with the standard signs of angioma, depending on the location of the vascular formation.

There is another type of angioma, which often raises questions in patients - it is a cavernous angioma with an abundance of hemosiderophages. What is it about?

Hemosiderophages are specific macrophage cells, which include hemosiderin, an iron-containing pigment. The presence of these cells means the course of the resorption process in the pathological focus: siderophages appear 3-4 days from the beginning of the process and are destroyed approximately by 17-18 days. Resorption is a resorption of disintegrating erythrocyte mass, in which macrophages take an active part. By the degree of maturity of hemosiderophages, it is possible to determine the duration of the onset of inflammatory lesions in angiomas.

[18], [19], [20]

Complications and consequences

What consequences or complications can cavernous angioma cause? This directly depends on which part of the brain is the vascular cavernoma, from its size, from the progression of the pathology, from the patient's lifestyle and from many other factors. If the malformation is detected too late, or an inflammatory or dystrophic process develops, complications can soon occur: vascular wall ruptures, hemorrhages, increased vascular congestion and caverns in the volume, local blood flow disorder, circulatory disturbance in the brain, and death.

Nevertheless, sometimes a patient can live with such a pathology and not suspect about its existence. But is it worth it to hope, because the cases are different, and from undesirable manifestations of the disease no one is immune. This also applies to cavernoma - this disease is unpredictable, and no one can say how it will behave in the future. Therefore, doctors unequivocally advise: even in the absence of clinical manifestations, it is important to regularly monitor progression and the state of vascular cavernous formation, monitor its development and periodically conduct a course of preventive treatment, which the doctor will appoint.

[21], [22]

Diagnostics of the cavernous angioma

Treatment of cavernoma should always begin with a full diagnosis, the scheme of which doctors determine individually for each patient. The general diagnostic technique may include such types of studies:

• Expansive blood tests (for the presence of inflammation, anemia), as well as cerebrospinal fluid (for the presence of bleeding in the liquor).

Instrumental diagnostics:

1. method of angiography - X-ray examination of blood vessels with the use of contrast fluid. The resulting image will help to detect the degree of constriction or destruction of cerebral vessels, identifying changes in the vascular wall and identifying weaknesses. Such a diagnostic procedure is assigned to determine the circulatory disorder in the brain. It allows you to clearly identify the localization, volume and form of angioma, as well as to detect a damaged vessel. Diagnosis is carried out in a specially equipped office. First, the doctor conducts local anesthesia, then pierces the elastic catheter into the vessel and moves it to the affected area. Contrast substance introduced into the circulatory system diverges along the vascular network, after which the doctor takes several pictures, after which a diagnosis is subsequently made;
2. the method of computed tomography is a very popular and painless procedure that does not cause discomfort, and is quite informative. It is usually performed, either with the use of a contrast medium, or without it. As a result, the doctor receives detailed layered x-rays in the form of two-dimensional images, which allows us to examine the pathology in detail. The procedure is carried out only in special rooms with the appropriate equipment - a tomograph;
3. the technique of magnetic resonance imaging in some ways resembles a computer tomography, but instead of X-ray radiation, it uses radio wave and magnetic radiation. Images are obtained in detailed, three-dimensional. The procedure is non-invasive, provides comprehensive information about the disease, but is relatively expensive;
4. the method of electroencephalography allows to study the biological potentials of the brain, as well as to determine where the angioma is located and what its dimensions are. If there is a tumor, the doctor discovers a change in the signal sent to the brain structures.

[23], [24], [25]

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis, as a rule, is carried out with other tumors, or with an aneurysm - if there is a suspicion of a gap in the hospital, the patient is assigned a study of cerebrospinal fluid. The analysis will reveal in it traces of bleeding or hemorrhage. This procedure can be carried out only in hospital settings.

In addition, examinations and consultations of other specialists, such as a vascular surgeon, a neurosurgeon, a neuropathologist, a geneticist, etc., may be scheduled.

Treatment of the cavernous angioma

Operative treatment is the most effective treatment for cavernoma. A universal medicine that could eliminate pathology does not exist.

The purpose of treatment is often complicated by the fact that many patients have cavernous angioma that does not cause discomfort, and persistent disability is noted mainly only with repeated hemorrhages from deep angiomas, or from neoplasms of the brain stem - areas that are difficult to access for surgical intervention.

Nevertheless, even a benign course of the disease does not guarantee the absence of complications in the future, and a timely operation can completely eliminate the danger of negative consequences.

Thus, specialists recommend performing surgical treatment in the following situations:

• with superficial cavernous angiomas, which are manifested by hemorrhages, or convulsive attacks;
• with neoplasms that are located in the active brain areas and are manifested by hemorrhages, persistent neurological disorders, attacks of epilepsy;
• at the dangerous sizes of an angioma.

In any case, the doctor should inform the patient about all possible risks and variants of the course of the disease.

Surgical treatment of cavernous angioma can be carried out in several ways:

• Surgical intervention is a classical method of neoplasm removal that will reduce the pressure of the vascular bundle on the surrounding brain tissues, which will eliminate unpleasant symptoms and the risk of rupture of pathological vessels. Has some contraindications: old age and multiple vascular formations.
• Radiosurgical surgical intervention - removal of the tumor with the help of special devices (kiberi gamma knife). The essence of the method is that a beam beam aimed at a particular angle acts on the angiome. This procedure is considered safe, but not as effective as a surgical procedure. This technique is used mainly in cases where the operation is impossible or difficult due to the inaccessibility of the angioma.

Alternative treatment of cavernous angioma

Treatment with herbs cavernous angioma is used only to relieve the symptoms of the disease. It is foolish to hope that the reception of herbal remedies will help to completely get rid of the problem - let us reiterate that the only radical treatment for angioma is the operation. However, before starting such treatment, it is still recommended to consult with a specialist.

• For the prevention of ruptures of the vascular wall, it is recommended to increase its elasticity. This can be achieved by eating daily on an empty stomach 2 tbsp. L. Any vegetable oil (one spoon in the morning, the second - at night). Used as olive or linseed oil, and unrefined sunflower.
• To increase the elasticity of the vessels use another common method: take on an empty stomach every morning a mixture of equal parts of natural honey, vegetable oil, flaxseed and lemon juice.
• To improve blood circulation, the following recipe can be useful: every day in the morning on an empty stomach take one tablespoon of freshly squeezed potato juice. Also advise to drink infusion of hips.
• To clean the blood vessels and improve blood circulation, take garlic infusion. Prepare it as follows: rub on a small grater head of garlic and one lemon (with skin), mix, pour 0.5 liters of boiled chilled water and insist for 3-4 days. Drink 2 tablespoons. L. Daily. Can be stored in the refrigerator.
• To eliminate such symptoms as headaches, fennel seeds help. It is necessary to pour a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. L. Seeds. Take 1 tbsp. L. 4 rubles per day.
• To get rid of dizziness and noise in the head it is useful to drink tea from mint or balm, several times during the day.
• To strengthen blood vessels, it is recommended to eat a couple of green olives once a day in the morning before breakfast.

[26], [27], [28], [29],

Homeopathy with cavernous angioma

Many patients with cavernous angioma prefer herbal remedies, for example, homeopathic, as a substitute for traditional medication. On the one hand, this is a good choice: homeopathy preparations have no side effects and rarely cause allergies, and their effectiveness is sometimes legendary. However, you should always be careful in choosing and consulting with specialists - first of all, with your doctor.

What medications are recommended by homeopaths to alleviate symptoms in cavernous angioma:

• Edas-138 - means of production of the firm "EDAS";
• Angiosan - produced by the company "Homeopharma";
• Cerebralik - producer - company "Fytasinteks";
• "Aurum +" means the company "Doctor-N."

If your doctor has any suspicions about possible complications and hemorrhages of the angioma, then perhaps it is worth agreeing to the operation - any medications, alternative or homeopathic can for a while alleviate the symptoms, but the main problems - the vascular bundle and circulatory disturbances - will remain.

Prevention

Prevention of cavernous angioma, as an innate disease, is impossible, since there is no possibility for today to correct the genetic disorder.

When it comes to preventive measures, doctors usually have in mind prevention of complications of the disease - vascular rupture, bleeding, etc.

What are the recommendations for this?

• Continuous monitoring of blood pressure (norm - from 120/80 to 140/90).
• Proper nutrition, lack of excess weight.
• Controlling cholesterol level in the bloodstream.
• Lack of bad habits.
• Regular blood glucose tests.
• Absence of stress and psychoemotional shocks.
• Moderate physical activity.
• Observance of an anti-cholesterol diet (with restriction of animal fats and preferential use of vegetable and lean food).

You need to listen to your body. At the slightest signs of brain damage - if there is a headache, dizziness, hearing or visual impairment, numbness of the extremities, etc. - you should definitely consult a doctor. Timeliness of such treatment significantly improves the prognosis of the disease.

[30], [31], [32], [33]

Forecast

The prognosis for cavernous angioma in general can be called favorable, but only if the disease is detected before the rupture of the vessel with a hemorrhage, as well as with timely surgical intervention to remove the neoplasm.

After surgical treatment and the application of radiosurgery procedures, the patient can soon lead a full-fledged lifestyle. After the removal of cavernous formation, all patients completely get rid of pathological symptoms and uncomfortable sensations.

Currently, most well-known clinics are equipped with the most modern devices for diagnosis and treatment of such pathology as cavernous angioma. The treatment regimen is appointed taking into account the individual characteristics of patients, based on the results of the diagnostic tests carried out.

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