Cavernous Angioma Presenting as Encephalocele: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A cavernous angioma (also known as a cavernous malformation or cavernoma) is a type of vascular malformation. Consisting of a low-pressure collection of vein-like vessels in the shape of caverns, cavernous angioma can occur anywhere in the brain or spinal cord. While it was originally believed that most vascular malformations are present at birth (congenital), cavernous malformation lesions may develop throughout the lifetime of the affected individual. There are no documented cases of cavernous malformation being the lead point in encephaloceles in current literature to our knowledge. Cavernous malformation presents as headaches, progressive neurologic deficits, seizures or bleeding but not as encephaloceles. We report two neonates, a male and female with histopathologic diagnosis of cavernous angioma that presented as frontonasal and occipital encephalocele.