BACKGROUND De novo cavernoma, reported with the familial form of disease, i
s rare in cases with a negative family history. Cranial radiation, coexiste
nt vascular malformation, genetic and hormonal factors, previous surgery fo
r intracranial lesions, or other apparently unrelated intracranial lesions
have been reported as risk factors.
METHODS We report a case of de novo cavernoma without a family history and
without previous irradiation or any other known risk factors. The genesis o
f this lesion is discussed.
RESULTS To our knowledge, this is the first case, based on two separate mag
netic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, demonstrating evidence of de novo ca
vernous malformations in the absence of familial history, brain radiation t
herapy, or other apparently unrelated intracranial tissue lesions. Based on
previous negative computed tomography scans, other cases have been present
ed as de novo cavernous angiomas; thus it is possible that the newly discov
ered cavernoma existed previously but had been missed on previous poorer qu
ality or lower resolution imaging studies.
CONCLUSIONS Cavernoma can arise even without an associated family history;
in our case, a previous head injury could have set off either a genetic cas
cade with attendant endothelial proliferation or a latent virus. (C) 2000 b
y Elsevier Science Inc.