Imaging diagnosis of cerebral cavernous hemangioma

Objective:To discuss CT,MRI,MRA and DSA features of cerebral cavernous hemangioma and compare diagnostic value of the methods for the disease.Methods:The data of 20 cases with cerebral cavernous hemangioma was analyed retrospectively and 15 cases with pathologically proved.20 cases were examined with plain CT scan,plain MRI and MRA.13 cases with contrast-enhanced CT,15 cases with Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI,and 12 cases with DSA.Results:Most cerebral cavernous hemangioma was single (17/20,85%) and occurred at any site in the brain.On plain CT scans,25 lesions were detected in 20 cases which presented high density or slightly-high density.On enhanced CT scans,15 lesions were found in 13 cases,of which 10 lesions showed no enhancement while 5 lesions showed slight enhancement.MRI demonstrated 25 lesions in 20 cases,of which 12 lesions displayed iso-intense signal,8 lesions high-intense signal and 5 lesions mixed signal on T 1WI.All lesions displayed mixed signal on T 2WI,23 lesions displayed ring-like low-signal,and 2 lesions showed perifocal edema,no mass effect was present in most cases.17 lesions were found in 15 cases,of which 7 lesions showed slight enhancement,2 lesions showed slight enhancement on the round,while 8 lesions showed no enhancement.Both 20 cases with 3D TOF MRA and 12 cases with DSA examination could not showed any supplied-artery and veins,of which 4 cases showed faint staining from capillary stage to sinus stage on DSA images.Conclusion:Cerebral cavernous hemangioma has characteristic imaging features.Both CT and MRI are of great value in the diagnosis of the disease and MRI is superior to CT in displaying the lesion.Both MRA and DSA are less valuable in the diagnosis of cerebral cavernous hemangioma.