Objectives-Venous angiomas, or developmental venous anomalies (DVAs), repre
sent the most often occurring cerebral vascular malformation. The clinical
significance of a DVA is, however, at present unclear.
Methods-A retrospective analysis was carried out on two series of consecuti
ve cranial MRIs performed between January 1990 and August 1996 in a univers
ity department of neuroradiology and in a large radiological private practi
ce. The medical records of all patients in whom a DVA was diagnosed were sc
reened to identify the specific complaint which necessitated the imaging pr
ocedure.
Results-A total of 67 patients with DVA could be identified. In 12 patients
an associated cavernoma was found. The main reason for performing the MRI:
was the evaluation of seizures or of headaches. In all patients with DVA i
n whom an intracerebral haemorrhage was diagnosed an associated cavernoma w
as present at the site of the haemorrhage. None of the 67 patients showed a
n association between the complaints that led to the MRI and the location o
f the DVA.
Conclusions-DVAs do not seem to be associated with a specific clinical pres
entation. In a significant percentage of cases, however, coexisting caverno
mas are found which have a defined bleeding potential and should be treated
independently of the DVA. This study supports the hypothesis that DVAs are
a congenital abnormality of venous drainage without clinical significance.