Cerebral Cavernous Malformations: Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, CT and MRI Diagnosis, and Treatment
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs), also called cavernous angiomas or cavernomas, are low-flow vascular malformations composed of abnormally dilated capillary channels without intervening brain tissue. While often clinically silent, CCMs can lead to seizures, hemorrhage, and progressive neurological decline. With the increasing use of advanced neuroimaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the detection of CCMs has become more frequent. This article reviews the pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, treatment options, and prognosis of CCMs, based on a case of a 35-year-old woman who underwent neuroimaging after a traffic accident . Her non-contrast CT and MRI revealed multiple CCMs, which serve as illustrative examples throughout this discussion. Pathophysiology CCMs are composed of thin-walled vascular caverns lined by a single layer of endothelium. The walls lack smooth muscle, elastin, and intervening parenchyma, r...