Cavernous angioma

[090308health]

Hi, I`m a 24 yr old female from VA. I have posted before about strange neurological symptoms I was having after the birth of my baby in 2002. I had tingling, numbness, twitching, cramping & other odd sensations that would come and go all over my body. I seen 3 neurologists about it who couldn`t tell me anything, they kept saying all tests were normal, including MRIs. But luckily, I found a new neurologist who may have discovered what might be going on. He thought something was wrong and ordered a new MRI of the brain this past April. After he reviewed an MRI I had in 2002 by a different neurologist, and the results of the MRI I had in April, he told me that I have a Cavernous angioma on the left side of my brain. He said that he felt it was benign and wasn`t doing anything though. He didn`t seem to think some of my symptoms were related to this. Some of my symptoms have been left sided, and this thing is on the left side of my brain. I can`t remember what part of the brain he said it was located in though. He said some of these can be dangerous, but he didn`t feel mine was. So, when do neurologists usually recommend surgery for one of these? What do neurologists do if they feel a patient has a CA that isn`t doing anything? Can you have left sided symptoms if it is on the left side of the brain? I have an MRA scheduled today, will it be able to tell whether this thing has bled or not?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

Cavernous angiomas are a collection of abnormal blood vessels which are predisposed to bleeding, approximately 0.5-1% per year. The bleeding can be small, and cause no symptoms, or large, and cause significant symptoms. Seeing a vascular neurosurgeon for an opinion would be reasonable. They can evaluate the films, and provide you with more information regarding the risk of significant bleeding. You stated this is in the left side of the brain. The left side of the brain controls the opposite part of the body, and therefore this most likely does not explain your symptoms. The MRA will not tell you if it has bleed. A MRI gradient echo can do this. I hope this helps. If you are in the area, our Neurosurgeons deal with these often. Good luck

[090308health]

Thanks so much for your kind reply. It`s nice you guys do this for us who can`t get in to see our doctors soon.