Cavernous angioma on Thoracic spinal area - remove?

[Julie-Swift]

  I have been diagnosed with a cavernous angioma in my thoracic spine area.
  Originally the doctor thought that there were extra veins feeding the
  malaformation, but realized after the third MRI that it was a standard
  cavernous angioma.  My father was diagnosed with it - and was paralzed from
  the waise down- and his doctors warned his children that it seemed to be
  familial - possibly passed to 50% of us.  I had one MRI done 2 1/2 years
  ago to check if my children would need to be checked later in life.... I
  was diagnosed with three in my brain and one on my thorasic chord.  About
  three months ago, I had a continual pain under my breast.  It would move
  from front to back, and now I have slight numbness on my left leg - just
  the skin.  After the doctor determined that it was definietly a 'standard'
  cavernous angioma, he said that it was a threat to me, and we should remove
  it.  My question finally comes.. is this a normal procedure that normally
  does not cause paralysis?  Is the risk too high to consider? or is it better
  to loose this mass and take a slight risk?  I do have an appointment with
  another neurosurgen for a second opinion on the 4th but wanted a general
  third opinion also.  Any info would be considered helpful...
  The doctor that I would have do the surgery - if decided to do so - said he
  would have to take some of the bone off of the spine, then drain the spinal
  fluid, then go around the chord to remove the angioma. He did say there were
  risks, but he also said that the angioma could bleed again, and cause
  paralysis like it did in my dad.
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Dear Julie,
A cavernous angioma is a benign tangle of blood vessel that may occur anywhere in the brain or spinal cord.  They have a tendency to bleed, though the bleeds are not typically catastrophic.  They may present with symptoms from bleeding and mass effect in the brain or spinal cord, as well as seizures in those of the brain.  
Cavernous angiomas (also cavernomas or cavernous malformations) are best treated with microsurgical removal.  Radiation is of no proven benefit.  The risk in not treating them is that they may bleed again and cause further neurological deficits.  Your symptoms are referable to the cavernoma of the spinal cord and most surgeons would recommend to have it removed.  The risk to causing damage is low while the benefit to you is likely to be significant in the long run.  
Your history is a bit complicated in that there is a family history of cavernous malformations and you stated that you have other known cavernomas in the brain.  This should be an indication to get the rest of the family checked out in the near future.  In your case, the cavernoma of the spinal cord is causing problems and should be removed.
Speak to your surgeon and get the second opinion.  Surgery is likely your best option.
Good luck.