cavernoma
Pronunciation: kav-er-NO-mah
A benign vascular malformation consisting of abnormal blood vessels with a characteristic "popcorn" appearance on MRI.
Full Definition
Cavernomas, also called cavernous malformations or cavernous angiomas, are clusters of abnormal, thin-walled blood vessels that can occur anywhere in the central nervous system. They appear as well-circumscribed lesions with mixed signal intensity on MRI, often described as having a "popcorn" or "mulberry" appearance with a surrounding hemosiderin ring. While usually asymptomatic, they can cause seizures, hemorrhage, or focal neurological deficits. Some cases are familial with autosomal dominant inheritance.
Usage
Usage note: Preferred term over 'cavernous hemangioma' as these are malformations, not true tumors.
In Context
- "The temporal lobe cavernoma showed typical hemosiderin staining on T2-weighted images." — MRI interpretation
- "Family history suggested hereditary cavernomatosis with multiple brain lesions." — Genetic counseling note