Long Follow-Up of Radiosurgery for Brainstem Cavernoma

• Published in: World neurosurgery Vol. 85; pp. 366.e5 - 366.e8
• Main Author: Wilkinson, Harold
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2016
• Subjects: Adult; Atrophy - etiology; Atrophy - physiopathology; Auditory Perception; Brain Stem - pathology; Brain Stem - physiopathology; Brain Stem Neoplasms - diagnosis; Brain Stem Neoplasms - surgery; Cavernous angioma; Facial Recognition; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System - diagnosis; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System - surgery; Humans; Late complications; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neurosurgery; Radiosurgery; Radiosurgery - adverse effects; Time Factors; Touch Perception; Cavernous angioma of the brainstem; Magnetic resonance imaging; CAB; MRI; Radiosurgery; Late complications; Cavernous angioma
• ISSN: 1878-8750; 1878-8769
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2015.09.006

Background There is a relative paucity of long-term follow-up of treatment of brainstem cavernous angiomas. This has led to uncertainty and a lack of consensus regarding optimum therapy, especially radiosurgery. Methods Report of a single case with a 24-year follow-up. Results This patient was minimally symptomatic before her radiosurgery procedure. She developed an acute complication, from which she incompletely recovered. Two decades later she has become more symptomatic, with new deficits, and magnetic resonance imagings disclose progressive brainstem atrophy. Conclusions Long-term follow-up of patients treated with radiosurgery is important.