Cerebellar cavernous malformation in pediatric patients: defining clinical, neuroimaging, and therapeutic characteristics

Pilocytic Astrocytoma Presenting with Spontaneous Cerebellar Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Hemorrhagic pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) are rare, accounting for 1.1%-8.0% of all PA cases. They are reported to occur more frequently in older populations, with a male predominance. In this study, we report a case of a 14-year-old boy who presented with a headache, vertigo, and diplopia. As per his brain computed tomography scan, a small hematoma was observed in the left inferior cerebellar peduncle. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed repeated minor bleeding from the lesion and mild expansion, with no neurological deficits. Four years later, the patient developed nausea, vomiting, and left abducens palsy. MRI revealed a mulberry-shaped mass surrounded by a hypointense rim, suggesting a cavernous angioma. The lesion was surgically resected via midline occipital craniotomy with the opening of the cerebellomedullary fissure. Histopathological examination of the lesion revealed PA. Next-generation sequencing analyses revealed that PAs harbored mutations in the ARID1A, ATM, and POLE genes but not in the BRAF gene. To the best of our knowledge, there are yet no reported studies on these mutations in PAs to date. Thus, PA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cerebellar hemorrhage, especially in young adults and children．.

Cystic Cerebral Cavernous Malformations: Report of Five Cases and a Review of Literature

Introduction  Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) account for about 5 to 13% of intracranial vascular malformations. Cystic cerebral cavernous malformations (cCCMs) are a rare morphological variant and can cause diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. We describe our five such cases and review the existing literature on this entity. Methods  A search of the PubMed database for cCCMs was done, and all articles in English emphasizing the reporting of cCCMs were selected. A total of 42 publications describing 52 cases of cCCMs were selected for analysis. Epidemiological data, clinical presentation, imaging features, the extent of resection, and outcome were analyzed. Radiation-induced cCCMs were excluded. We have also described five of our cases of cCCMs and reported our experience. Results  The median age at presentation was 29.5 years. Twenty-nine patients had supratentorial lesions, 21 had infratentorial lesions, and 2 had lesions in both compartments. Among our four patients, three had infratentorial lesions, whereas one had a supratentorial lesion. Multiple lesions were seen in four patients. A majority (39) had symptoms of mass effect (75%), and 34 (65.38%) had raised intracranial pressure (ICP), whereas only 11 (21.15%) had seizures. Among our four operated patients, all of them had symptoms of mass effect, and two of them also had features of raised ICP. The extent of resection was gross total in 36 (69.23%), subtotal in 2 (3.85%), and not reported in 14 (26.93%). All four of our operated patients underwent gross total resection, but two of them underwent a second surgery. Of the 48 patients in whom the surgical outcome was reported, 38 improved (73.08%). One showed a transient worsening followed by improvement, one developed a worsening of the pre-existing focal neurological deficit (FND), two developed a new FND, and 5 had no improvement in their FNDs. Death occurred in one patient. All four of our operated patients improved after surgery, although three of them showed a transient worsening of FNDs. One patient is under observation. Conclusion  cCCMs are rare morphological variants and can cause considerable diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. They should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any atypical cystic intracranial mass lesion. Complete excision is curative, and the outcome is generally favorable; although transient deficits may be seen.

Giant cavernous malformation of the posterior fossa with lymphangiomatous phenotype, associated with orbital venolymphatic anomaly in an 11-month-old patient: case report and literature review

The synchronous presentation of venolymphatic anomalies of the orbit and noncontiguous intracranial cavernous malformations is uncommon. Herein, we present a case of an 11-month-old female patient diagnosed with orbital venolymphatic anomaly associated with a large cavernous malformation in the posterior fossa, who underwent complete surgical resection of the latter. The immunohistochemical analysis was positive for podoplanin, a marker expressed by lymphatic endothelial cells, but not vascular endothelium. This exceptional finding suggests lymphatic involvement in the etiology of the lesion. In our review of the literature, we did not find similar cases in patients under 1 year of age.

How can we optimize the long-term outcome in children with intracranial cavernous malformations? A single-center experience of 61 cases

The objective is to provide a treatment algorithm for pediatric patients with intracranial cavernous malformations (CMs) based on our experience. Patients < 18 years of age who were treated either surgically or conservatively at the authors' institution between 1982 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 61 pediatric patients were treated at the authors' institution: 39 with lobar CMs; 18 with deep CMs, including 12 in the brainstem and 6 in the basal ganglia; and 4 with CMs in the cerebellar hemispheres. Forty-two patients underwent surgery, and 19 were treated conservatively. The median follow-up time was 65 months (1-356 months). In surgically treated patients, lesions were larger (2.4 cm vs 0.9 cm, p < 0.001). In patients with lobar CMs, seizures were more common (72% vs 21%, p = 0.003) in the surgery group than in conservatively managed patients. In deep CMs, modified Rankin scale (mRS) was higher (4 vs 1, p = 0.003) in the surgery group than in conservatively treated patients. At the time of last follow-up, no differences in Wieser outcome class I were seen (86% vs 67%) in lobar CMs, and mRS scores had aligned between the treatment groups in deep CMs (1 vs 0). We encountered no new permanent neurological deficit at time of last follow-up. We propose a treatment algorithm according to lesion location and size, burden of symptoms, epilepsy workup, and further clinical course during observation. A conservative management is safe in pediatric patients with asymptomatic CMs. Gross total resection should be the aim in patients with symptomatic lobar CMs. A less aggressive approach with subtotal resection, when required to prevent neurological compromise, sustainably improves neurological outcome in patients with deep CMs.

Presentation and management of nervous system cavernous malformations in children: A systematic review and case report

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs) are slow-flow vascular lesions that affect up to 0.5% of the pediatric population. These lesions are at risk for hemorrhage, causing seizures, and leading to neurological deficits. Here, we conduct a literature review and then present a report of a supratentorial CM in a 2-year-old patient with no significant past medical history who presented at our institution with 1 month of eye twitching. We performed a literature search of five databases of all articles published before 2020. Our inclusion criteria included cohort and case series of children with mean age under 12 years. Our search yielded 497 unique articles, of which 16 met our inclusion criteria. In our pooled literature analysis, a total of 558 children were included, 8.3% of which had a positive family history and 15.9% had multiple CMs. About 46.1% of the children had seizures, and 88.4% of those who underwent surgery had a total resection. About 85.1% of those with epilepsy were Engel Class 1 postsurgery. Over a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, 3.4% of patients had additional neurological deficits, including paresis and speech deficits. Our analysis of published literature shows surgical intervention should be considered first-line therapy for patients who are symptomatic from CM, present with seizure, and have surgically accessible lesions. Additional work is needed on outcomes and long-term effects of minimally invasive treatments, including radiosurgery and laser ablation, in pediatric populations.

Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Sign of Cavernous Angioma Diagnosis in Pediatric Age Group

Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a developmental abnormality of blood vessels that supply the brain. It is composed of large, adjacent capillaries which contain little or no neural tissue. They mostly occur in the supratentorial region. However, the occurrence of these vascular lesions can be seen at different sites of the central nervous system (CNS). The prevalence of CCM is estimated to be 0.4% in the general population and among the affected patients, 18.7% have multiple lesions. However, about 30-50% of CCM cases are asymptomatic and are found incidentally. Here we report a case of an eight-year-old girl with a massive hemorrhagic presentation of a left parietooccipital CCM.

Hemorrhage owing to cerebral cavernous malformation: imaging, clinical, and histopathological considerations

Cavernous malformation (CM) is the second most common cerebral vascular malformation and is often found incidentally. Their natural history is usually benign, however, patients with CM who present with symptomatic hemorrhage may later follow a serious clinical course if left untreated. The risk of hemorrhage is associated with previous hemorrhage, lesion location (infratentorial and deep), and the presence of associated developmental venous anomaly (DVA). Histopathological specimens also indicate that coexistence of DVA and other vascular malformations may be associated with hemorrhage owing to CMs. Diagnosing CMs is difficult, even in patients who initially present with symptomatic hemorrhage. Computed tomography scans typically reveal a hemorrhagic CM as a nonspecific heterogenous mass of high density, which may not be misdiagnosed as a solitary hematoma, especially when located in the infratentorial region. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates internal loculation with mixed-signal intensities typical for CMs, although this may be partially or completely masked by acute hemorrhage. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) reveals a significant "blooming" effect of hemosiderin deposition. Three-dimensional postcontrast T1-weighted imaging is essential to identify associated DVAs, and this is important for both diagnosis and planning of surgical treatment. Contrast-enhanced MRI should be performed to diagnose hemorrhagic CMs and differentiate them from spontaneous solitary hematoma or hemorrhagic tumors.

Timing of Surgery and Surgical Strategies in Symptomatic Brainstem Cavernomas: Review of the Literature

Brainstem cavernomas (BSCs) are angiographically occult, benign low flow vascular malformations that pose a significant surgical challenge due to their eloquent location. The present study includes an extensive review of the literature and three illustrative cases of BSC with emphasis on the timing of surgery: surgical approaches, usage of intraoperative monitoring, and complication avoidance. A systematic search was performed using the PubMed database was from January 1, 1999, to June 2018. The relevant articles were reviewed with particular attention to hemorrhage rates, timing of surgery, indications for surgery, surgical approaches, and outcome. Along with this, a retrospective analysis of three cases of symptomatic BSC, who were operated for the same, during the year 2018 in our institute was conducted. All the three patients presented with at least 1 episode of hemorrhage before surgery. Of these, one patient was operated immediately due to altered sensorium whereas the other two were operated after at least 4 weeks of the hemorrhagic episode. The patients who were operated in the subacute phase of bleed were seen to have liquefaction of hematoma, thus providing a good surgical demarcation and thereby reduced surgery-related trauma to the surrounding eloquent structures. Two patients improved neurologically during the immediate postoperative period, whereas one had transient worsening of neurological deficits during the immediate postoperative period in the form of additional cranial nerve palsies which completely improved on follow-up after 2 months. Radical resection is recommended in all patients with symptomatic BSCs. Surgery should be considered after the first or the second episode of hemorrhage as multiple rebleeds can cause exacerbation of deficits and sometimes mortality as well. Considering surgical timing, anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks or the subacute phase of the hemorrhage is considered appropriate. The aims of surgical intervention must be to improve preoperative function, minimize surgical morbidity and to reduce hemorrhagic rates. In spite of the significant surgical morbidity associated with BSCs, appropriate patient selection, meticulous surgical planning with adjuncts such as intraoperative monitoring and neuronavigation will go a long way in avoidance of major postoperative complications.

Pediatric cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma presenting with spontaneous intratumoral hemorrhage

Pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) are benign glial tumors and one of the most common childhood posterior fossa tumors. Spontaneous intratumoral hemorrhage in PAs occurs occasionally, in about 8-20% of cases. Cerebellar hemorrhages in pediatric population are rare and mainly due to head injuries, rupture of vascular malformations, infections, or hematological diseases. We have investigated the still controversial and unclear pathophysiology underlying intratumoral hemorrhage in PAs. Bleeding in low-grade tumors might be related to structural abnormalities and specific angio-architecture of tumor vessels, such as degenerative mural hyalinization, "glomeruloid" endothelial proliferation, presence of encased micro-aneurysms, and glioma-induced neoangiogenesis. The acute hemorrhagic presentation of cerebellar PA in childhood although extremely uncommon is of critical clinical importance and necessitates promptly treatment. We described a case of hemorrhagic cerebellar PA in a 9-year-old child and reviewed the English-language literature that reported spontaneous hemorrhagic histologically proven cerebellar PA in pediatric patients (0-18 years). According to our analysis, the mortality was not related to symptom onset, tumor location, hemorrhage distribution, presence of acute hydrocephalous, and timing of surgery, while the GCS at hospital admission resulted to be the only statistically significant prognostic factor affecting survival outcome. The abrupt onset of signs and symptoms of acute hydrocephalous and consequent raised intracranial pressure are life-threatening conditions, which need emergent medical and neurosurgical treatments. At a later time, the identification of posterior fossa hemorrhage etiology is crucial to select the appropriate treatment and address the surgical strategy, optimizing the postoperative results.

Pilocytic astrocytoma mimicking cavernous angioma: Imaging features and histological characteristics

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) commonly occurs during the first two decades of life. Typical locations include cerebellum, optic nerve, optic chiasm/hypothalamus and brainstem. PA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with brain tumors manifesting with hemorrhagic onset. We report a case of a hemorrhagic onset of cerebellar PA in a young adult with imaging findings mimicking cavernous angioma. We also discuss imaging features and histological characteristics with a focus on the etiology of the hemorrhagic onset.

Cavernous malformations of central nervous system in pediatric patients: our single-centered experience in 50 patients and review of literature

PURPOSE

Cavernous malformations (CMs) are rare developmental cerebrovascular malformations of the central nervous system with a childhood prevalence of 0.3 to 0.53%. Our purpose was to assess the clinical features and microsurgical outcome in pediatric central nervous system (CNS) CMs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled all the CM patients admitted to our institute from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2014. Data was analyzed for their clinical features and surgical outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients with CMs (30 supratentorial, 14 infratentorial, and 6 spinal) with a mean age of 14 years (3-18 years, SD ±4.64) were enrolled into the study. Most of these patients (78%) were male. Size varied from 1.2 to 6 cm. Three patients had multiple CMs. Symptoms of CMs were site specific. Seizure was the most common symptom (63.3%) of CMs at supratentorial location followed by headache (46%) and neurodeficiency (26%), while all brainstem and spinal CMs presented with neurodeficiencies. History of clinically significant acute hemorrhage was present in 19.2% of supratentorial (ST) superficial CMs, 50% of ST deep CMs, 25% of cerebellar CMs, 44.4% of brainstem CMs, and 50% of spinal CMs. Forty-five CMs in 44 patients were surgically excised. Their follow-up ranged from 6 to 162 months (mean 47.2 months, SD ±53). All supratentorial CM patients showed improvement in their symptoms. Patients with preoperative seizure showed good seizure control with Engel scale I in 16 (94.1%) and Engel scale II in 1 (5.9%). In infratentorial (IT) and spinal CM patients, 92.3 and 66.7% had improvement in their neurodeficiencies, respectively. There was no mortality in our series.

CONCLUSION

Microsurgical excision of CNS CM results in excellent neurological outcome in pediatric patients. Early intervention is necessary in spinal CMs for better outcome.

Brainstem and cerebellar cavernous malformations

Cavernous malformations are vascular lesions that occur throughout the central nervous system, most commonly in the supratentorial location, with brainstem and cerebellar cavernous malformations occurring more rarely. Cavernous malformations are associated with developmental venous anomalies that occur sporadically or in familial form. Patients with a cavernous malformation can present with headaches, seizures, sensorimotor disturbances, or focal neurologic deficits based on the anatomic location of the lesion. Patients with infratentorial lesions present more commonly with a focal neurologic deficit. Cavernous malformations are increasingly discovered incidentally due to the increasing use of magnetic resonance imaging. Understanding the natural history of these lesions is essential to their management. Observation and surgical resection are both reasonable options in the treatment of patients with these lesions. The clinical presentation of the patient, the location of the lesion, and the surgical risk assessment all play critical roles in management decision-making.