Open AccessExtracerebral Cavernous Angiomas of the Middle Fossa
Author(s) -
Daniele Rigamonti,
Conrad T. E. Pappas,
Robert F. Spetzler,
Peter C. Johnson
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
neurosurgery/neurosurgery online
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.485
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1081-1281
pISSN - 0148-396X
DOI - 10.1227/00006123-199008000-00024
Subject(s) - medicine , cavernous sinus , exophthalmos , diplopia , lesion , surgery , radiology , cerebral angiography , angiography , middle fossa , visual acuity
Three cases of extracerebral cavernous angiomas of the cavernous sinus in the middle fossa are reported. These are rare lesions that primarily affect women and are usually associated with acute or subacute onset of visual symptoms: diplopia, exophthalmos, and decreased visual acuity. The growth of the lesion often erodes the bone in the area of the cavernous sinus. Angiography usually depicts a vascular mass. The lesions represent a formidable surgical problem because of their tendency to cause intraoperative life-threatening hemorrhages. Morbidity and mortality can be drastically reduced by not attempting to resect the lesion further after biopsy and by giving a course of radiation therapy before definitive surgical treatment.