Re: Cavenous Angioma

Posted By ccf neuro M.D.* on April 16, 1998 at 22:44:30:

In Reply to: Cavenous Angioma posted by Jana on April 04, 1998 at 11:59:33:






I'm a 29-year-old woman with two young children. Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with a cavernous angioma on the left frontal lobe of my brain. It is near my speech and language area, but apparantly quite accessible. I have had two opinions from neurosurgeon's --one says wait and watch, while the other one says to eliminate the risk of further hemmorhage by taking it out. The only reason I went to the neurologist in the first place was because of very infrequent (6 total in 6 years), but severe, "spells" of dizziness, followed by 2 to 3 weeks of needing to concentrate more on my speech. At first I was told that this had nothing to do with the cavernoma, but the second surgeon says it may be related to when the cavernoma "leaks." He seems to think that these "spells" are more like seizures. So my question is two parts:
1. Have you ever heard people describe seizures as a feeling that the room is spinning severely?
2. Should I go ahead with the surgery to remove it?
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Hello Jana,

We cannot provide specific recommendations about treatments or interventions such as surgeries in individual cases. Vertiginous seizures or vertiginous epilepsy are a well recognized rare form of seizures in which episodic sudden attacks of a feeling of motion or spinning occur, and are usually localized to the surface of the temporal lobe of the brain, near the same part of the brain that processes hearing information. An underlying structural lesion, such as a tumor or cavernous angioma, can be responsible for such seizures. Treatment, if the spells can be confirmed as seizures, consists of antiepileptic drugs, and/or removal of the underlying lesion when feasable and safe. Remember that information that we provide on the forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only, and that the actual diagnosis and treatment of your specific medical condition should be strictly in conjunction with your treating physician(s). If you would be interested in a third opinion from a Cleveland Clinic staff neurologist or neurosurgeon, our appointment number is 1-800-223-2273. Ask for epilepsy neurology not general neurology and/or neurosurgery appointments. We hope you find the information provided useful.