| Venous Malformation (Angioma):
T1-weighted with gadolinium MRI scans; (Left and Middle) axial; (Right)
coronal. Note the enhancing vascular structure adjacent in the right cerebellum.
This lesion is a venous angioma. Venous angiomas are congenital malformations
of the cerebral veins, composed of several small veins that join to
drain into a larger venous trunk which then drains into a dural
sinus. On CT and MRI scans, venous angiomas enhance with contrast,
and have the appearance of a "medusa head". They are associated with other vascular malformations in
about 15-30% of patients, most frequently cavernous angiomas. Most
times, they are incidental findings on brain imaging. However, with
the advent of MRI and its high sensitivity in detecting remote
hemorrhage, venous angiomas are more often recognized as a source of
intracerebral hemorrhage. Thus, they are a potential etiology of
seizures, focal neurological findings, or rarely symptomatic
intracranial hemorrhage. |
Revised
11/29/06
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston