INTRAMEDULLARY CAVERNOUS ANGIOMAS OF THE SPINAL-CORD - REPORT OF 6 CASES

The authors report six cases of intramedullary cavernoma. Symptoms evo lved by episodes of stepwise neurologic deterioration or slow progress ion. All patients had preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonanc e imaging (MRI). Removal of the cavernoma was total in all cases and i n one a transthoracic approach was performed because of the ventral an d superficial position of the lesion. At follow-up, ranging from 6 to 18 months, two patients improved, two were unchanged, and one had dete riorated. Prognosis was influenced by the length of clinical history a nd the severity of preoperative symptoms. The principal clinical and t herapeutic aspects of cavernoma are discussed in light of the publishe d data.