INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE ASSOCIATED WITH ANOMALOUS VENOUS DRAINAGE

Two patients presented following small posterior fossa intraparenchyma l haemorrhages from which they fully recovered. In one case this was a repeat haemorrhage. Both patients had sustained this haemorrhage with in the bed of anomalous venous drainage. Angiography suggested that in both cases the anastomosis of the anomalous draining vein with the du ral sinus was stenosed. These cases support the concept that anomalous venous drainage can be associated with intraparenchymal haemorrhage u nassociated with cavernous malformation, that a compromised venous dra inage may be the cause for such haemorrhage and that surgical resectio n of 'venous angiomas' is inappropriate. (C) Harcourt Brace & Co. Ltd 1998.