Cavernous Haemangioma in Spinal Cord

Posted By  CCF NEUROSURGERY MD on September 18, 1997 at 11:24:42:

In Reply to: Cavernous Haemangioma in Spinal Cord posted by Debbie Harris on September 11, 1997 at 13:34:29:

: Cavernous Haemangioma found in spinal cord at T12 . Scheduled for
  removal Friday 19 Sept.  Am looking for reassurance and information about
  expected  recovery time and improvement.  My surgeon has done this before but not very often due to rarity.
  Any further info regarding operation and recovery gladly received -
  Thankyou
    

[CCF NEUROSURGERY MD]

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Dear Debbie,
Cavernous hemangiomas are defined as a tangle of vascular tissue without
intervening neural tissue.  They may appear in the brain or spinal cord.
Neurological deficits may arise depending on the size and location of the
hemangioma, usually by mass effect or bleeding.  Seizures may occur if the
hemangioma is located in the brain.  Surgical removal is the definitive
therapy for these lesions.
Surgery will require a laminectomy at the level of the hemangioma to gain
access to the mass, followed by complete removal.  Your particular recovery
time will depend on a few factors.  The most significant of which is the
degree of severity of symptoms you have had prior to surgery including:
leg weakness, numbness and incontinence.  Your age and general medical
condition will also affect recovery time.  Lastly, you should expect a
variable degree of worsening of symptoms after surgery.  This is due to
inevitable manipulation of the spinal cord at surgery and the transient
swelling of tissues that results.  
It is difficult to estimate your particular recovery time.  It could
range from a week or two to months.  You may also need physical therapy in
the postoperative setting to get back on your feet again.
Good luck.