Left deep frontal cavernous angioma mimicking a glioma in an adult patient

Abstract

Cerebral cavernous angiomas are vascular malformations characterized by large adjacent vessels. Usually, these lesions are smaller than 3 cm, the mean age at presentation occurs between 20 and 40 years, and the neuroradiological findings are well described, especially for magnetic resonance imaging, where the “popcorn balls” appearance is due to the presence of locules containing blood. Among these, the giant cavernous angiomas are very rare, particularly in adults. We collected clinical and neuroradiological data from clinical file and hospital diagnostic archive. A comprehensive review of similar cases was performed. We describe the clinical, diagnostic, and surgical management of a giant cerebral cavernous angioma located in the left deep frontal lobe mimicking a high-grade glioma in an adult Chinese patient. Giant cerebral cavernous angioma may be misdiagnosed and should be considered as differential diagnosis.

Glioblastoma Multiforme Imitating a Cavernoma: A Unique Image Case Report

“…While the typical presentation of GBMs on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is easily identi ed, occasionally, non-characteristic presentations are misinterpreted as vascular disease, [2] as was the case with our patient, whose GBM was initially mistaken to be a cavernoma, an aberrant vascular lesion characterized by a 'popcorn ball' appearance on MRI (Fig. 1) [3]. Cavernomas are seen rarely, occurring in 0.5% of the general population and accounting for 5-15% of all vascular diseases of the brain [4] Therefore, to holistically appreciate GBM progression, morphological and genetic alterations have been combined with traditional pathological descriptions of the disease to produce a dichotomous classi cation [5].…”

Giant Cavernous Malformation with Unusually Aggressive Clinical Course: a Case Report

“…Other vascular malformations, as well as some infectious diseases, inflammatory nodules or granulomas have also been considered 12,17 . Rarely, a GC might present with indistinct margins and mimic glioma 13 . Computed tomography angiography was not helpful either, as cavernomas are angiographically occult lesions 2,3 .…”

“…Other vascular malformations, as well as some infectious diseases, inflammatory nodules or granulomas have also been considered ( 12 , 17 ). Rarely, a GC might present with indistinct margins and mimic glioma ( 13 ).…”

“…They can be from a few millimeters to a few centimeters in size, usually smaller than 3 cm. The average diameter is about 1.5 cm 1,3,6,[10][11][12][13] . Multiple cavernomas can occur, and they are usually familial 14 .…”

Glioblastoma imitating a cavernoma radiologically: A unique image report

“…[ 17 ] While the typical presentation of glioblastoma on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is easily identified, occasionally, non-characteristic presentations are misinterpreted as vascular disease,[ 7 ] as was the case with our patient, whose glioblastoma was initially mistaken to be a cavernoma, an aberrant vascular lesion characterized by a “popcorn ball” appearance on MRI [ Figure 1 ]. [ 1 ] Cavernomas are seen rarely, occurring in 0.5% of the general population and accounting for 5–15% of all vascular diseases of the brain. [ 15 ]…”