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Spinal cord cavernous malformations (scCM) are rare vascular malformation representing approximately 5-12% of all intramedullary lesions. The authors reviewed over 20 publications available and have consolidated existing knowledge on the pathology, epidemiology, clinical and radiological characteristics scCM. scCM management and treatment methods have been outlined concisely and achieved outcomes have been presented. The average age of onset is 42 years without sexual predilections. scCM statistically most commonly occur in the thoracic region--57%, in 9% of patients familiar prevalence is present, in 27% of patients the co-existence of intracerebral vascular malformation is diagnosed. The most common clinical symptoms are the sensory and motor deficits (respectively 65% and 63%). The course of the disease in 54% of cases, is a progressive, slow neurologic deterioration, although it is also observed a rapid onset associated with cavernoma hemorrhage. The risk of hemorrhage is estimated at 2.5% annually. scCM that are located intramedullary, are asymptomatic should be the subject to observation. Cavernomas that are symptomatic, having contact with the surface of spinal cord or exophytic should be subject to surgical treatment that is intended to complete removal. Results of surgical treatment are satisfactory, in about 60% of patients clinical improvement has been observed.

Unlabelled: Among all detected cerebral angiomas the frequency of cavernous angiomas (CAs) is 5-13%. The aim of this study is to present the diagnostic methods of CA of the central nervous system (CNS), indications for surgery and assessment of its outcome. Between 1993-2000, eleven cases of CAs were operated on at the Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College, Jagiellonian University in Krakow. In 6--seizures were observed, in 4--headache (supratentorial CAs), increasing neurological deficits in 4 (location in vertebral channel and cerebellum), hemorrhage--1 case (CA in pons combined with supratentorial lesion). Surgery was carried out by means of craniotomy, and via laminectomy in the cases of spinal channel tumours. Early and late outcome were assessed in following cathegories: very good, good, fair, bad (significant deterioration). The shortest late observation was 5 years. Direct very good surgical outcome was attained in 4 cases (36%), good in 4. (36%), fair in 2. (18%), bad in 1 case. In late observation, 7 patients were very good (64%), and 3 good (27%). In one case the neurological improvement was poor, later observed--late outcome was fair. In 6 cases they suffered from frequent epileptic seizures before surgery; they were seizure free in the late assessment., Conclusions: (1) direct surgical outcome in CA of the CNS is good and very good in the majority of cases; (2) in late observation, further neurological improvement allows to attain over 90% good and very good outcomes; (3) the high antiepileptic effectiveness after surgery of CA is observed.

We present a case of a 21-year-old female with a giant cavernoma (5 cm x 3.1 cm x 3.6 cm) located in the left temporal region. Giant cavernomas are very rarely diagnosed. In our research we wanted to focus on the occurrence of these vascular malformations and diagnostic problems related to this matter.