Cavernomas in children with brain tumors: a late complication of radiotherapy

Radiation-Induced Cerebral Cavernous Malformations: A Single-Center Experience and Systematic Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

Radiation was first demonstrated to be associated with cavernomagenesis in 1992. Since then, a growing body of literature has shown the unique course and presentation of radiation-induced cavernous malformations (RICMs). This study summarizes the literature on RICMs and presents a single-center experience.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained single institution vascular malformation database was searched for all cases of intracranial cavernous malformation (January 1, 1997-December 31, 2021). For patients with a diagnosis of RICM, information on demographic characteristics, surgical treatments, radiation, and surgical outcomes was obtained and analyzed. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for all reported cases of RICM.

RESULTS

A retrospective review of 1662 patients treated at a single institution yielded 10 patients with prior radiation treatment in the neck or head region and a subsequent diagnosis of intracranial RICM. The median (interquartile range) latency between radiation and presentation was 144 (108-192) months. Nine of 10 patients underwent surgery; symptoms improved for 5 patients, worsened for 3, and were stable for 1. The systematic literature review yielded 64 publications describing 248 patients with RICMs. Of the 248 literature review cases, 71 (28.6%) involved surgical resection. Of 39 patients with reported surgical outcomes, 32 (82%) experienced improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

RICMs have a unique course and epidemiology. RICMs should be considered when patients with a history of radiation present with neurologic impairment. When RICMs are identified, symptomatic patients can be treated effectively with surgical excision and close follow-up.

Cerebral Cavernous Malformation: From Mechanism to Therapy

Cerebral cavernous malformations are acquired vascular anomalies that constitute a common cause of central nervous system hemorrhage and stroke. The past 2 decades have seen a remarkable increase in our understanding of the pathogenesis of this vascular disease. This new knowledge spans genetic causes of sporadic and familial forms of the disease, molecular signaling changes in vascular endothelial cells that underlie the disease, unexpectedly strong environmental effects on disease pathogenesis, and drivers of disease end points such as hemorrhage. These novel insights are the integrated product of human clinical studies, human genetic studies, studies in mouse and zebrafish genetic models, and basic molecular and cellular studies. This review addresses the genetic and molecular underpinnings of cerebral cavernous malformation disease, the mechanisms that lead to lesion hemorrhage, and emerging biomarkers and therapies for clinical treatment of cerebral cavernous malformation disease. It may also serve as an example for how focused basic and clinical investigation and emerging technologies can rapidly unravel a complex disease mechanism.

Optic chiasmal cavernous angioma: A rare suprasellar vascular malformation

Background:

Suprasellar cavernous malformation in the optic pathway is not commonly encountered. To date, there are only few reports present in the literature.

Case Description:

The authors report a rare case of suprasellar optic pathway cavernous malformation in a 33-year-old female who presented with progressive visual loss. Her imaging revealed a large heterogeneous, hyperintense, hemorrhagic right suprasellar extra-axial complex cystic structure, causing mass effect on the adjacent hypothalamus and third ventricle displacing these structures. Gross total resection of the lesion was achieved utilizing a right frontal craniotomy approach. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of suprasellar chiasmal cavernous malformation.

Conclusion:

Although visual pathway cavernous malformation is a rare event, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of lesions occurring suprasellarly in the visual pathway and hypothalamus.

Late Cerebrovascular Complications After Radiotherapy for Childhood Primary Central Nervous System Tumors

BACKGROUND

Brain radiotherapy plays a central role in the treatment of certain types of childhood primary central nervous system tumors. However, damage to surrounding normal brain tissue causes different acute and chronic medical and neurological complications. Despite the expected increase in number of childhood primary central nervous system tumor survivors, studies assessing the occurrence of late cerebrovascular complications, such as cavernoma, moyamoya, microbleeds, superficial siderosis, and stroke are sparse.

METHODS

We undertook a retrospective consecutive case series review describing the occurrence and characteristics of late cerebrovascular complications in 100 survivors of childhood primary central nervous system tumors treated with radiotherapy. Demographic, clinical, and radiological findings including gradient echo brain magnetic resonance data were retrieved.

RESULTS

Late cerebrovascular complications were found in 36 (36%) of the patients included in the study. Mean age at radiotherapy was 8.6 years (3-17) and at diagnosis was 23.9 years (3-38). The majority were males (21; 58%). The most common complications were microbleeds (29/36; 80.6%) and cavernomas 19 (52.8%). In seven (19.4%), late cerebrovascular complications were symptomatic: epilepsy (two), motor and language deficit (two), and sensorineural hearing loss and progressive ataxia (three) associated with cavernomas, stroke, and superficial siderosis, respectively. Follow-up length was associated with an increased diagnosis of late cerebrovascular complications (P < 0.0001). Late cerebrovascular complications occurred more commonly in children treated with whole-brain radiation therapy (P = 0.046). Factors such as sex, chemotherapy, and histological type of tumor were not correlated with the occurrence of late cerebrovascular complications.

CONCLUSION

Although not usually symptomatic, late cerebrovascular complications occur frequently in survivors of childhood primary central nervous system tumors treated with radiotherapy. Prolonged follow-up increases the probability of diagnosis. The impact and prognostic value of these late cerebrovascular complications is yet to be clarified.

Natural history of cavernous malformations in children with brain tumors treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Cavernous malformations (CM) are cerebral irradiation-related late complications. Little is known about their natural history and the pathogenetic role of concomitant chemotherapy. We present a retrospective, single-institution study of 108 children affected with medulloblastoma, ependymoma, or germinoma treated with radio- and chemotherapy. The frequency, clinical and radiological presentations, and outcomes were analyzed to investigate the relationship among radiation dose, associated chemotherapy, age, latency and localization of radiation-induced CM. 100 out of 108 children were treated with radiotherapy for primary brain tumor; 34 (27 with medulloblastoma and 7 with other histologies) out of 100 patients developed CM. No significant relationship was found between CM and gender (p = 0.70), age (p = 0.90), use of specific chemotherapy (standard versus high-dose, p = 0.38), methotrexate (p = 0.49), and radiation dose (p = 0.45). However, CM developed more frequently and earlier when radiotherapy was associated with methotrexate (70 % of cases). Radiation-induced CM prevailingly occurred in the cerebral hemispheres (p = 0.0001). Only 3 patients (9 %) were symptomatic with headache. Three patients underwent surgery for intra- or extra-lesional hemorrhage. CM was confirmed by histopathology for all 3 patients. The vast majority of radiation-induced CM is asymptomatic, and macro-hemorrhagic events occur rarely. Concomitant therapy with methotrexate seems to favor their development. We recommend observation for asymptomatic lesions, while surgery should be reserved to symptomatic growth or hemorrhage.

Detection of irreversible changes in susceptibility-weighted images after whole-brain irradiation of children

INTRODUCTION

Whole-brain irradiation is part of the therapy protocol for patients with medulloblastomas. Side effects and complications of radiation can be detected by follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) can detect even very small amounts of residual blood that cannot be shown with conventional MRI. The purpose of this study was to determine when and where SWI lesions appear after whole-brain irradiation.

METHODS

MRI follow-up of seven patients with medulloblastoma who were treated with whole-brain irradiation were analyzed retrospectively. SWI were part of the initial and follow-up MRI protocol. De novo SWI lesions, localization, and development over time were documented.

RESULTS

At time of irradiation, mean age of the patients was 13 years (±4 years). Earliest SWI lesions were detected 4 months after radiation treatment. In all patients, SWI lesions accumulated over time, although the individual number of SWI lesions varied. No specific dissemination of SWI lesions was observed.

CONCLUSION

Whole-brain irradiation can cause relatively early dot-like SWI lesions. The lesions are irreversible and accumulate over time. Histopathological correlation and clinical impact of these SWI lesions should be investigated.

Post-irradiation "acquired cavernous angiomas" with drug resistant seizures

Cavernomas are well-known congenital vascular lesions with presumably high epileptogenicity. We report two patients who developed cavernomas; both were in remission from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia following standard chemo-radiotherapy. They developed drug-resistant focal epilepsy secondary to cavernomas and were subjected to surgical/medical management. This report highlights the ictogenesis of radiation-induced "acquired" cavernous angiomatosis in the brain. Appropriate treatment, including resection of these lesions in selected cases, improves the quality of life in such patients.

Spontaneous bleeding into a suprasellar cavernous angioma of a neonate: case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Cavernous angiomas (CA) are congenital intraparenchymal vascular malformations that contain sinusoidal spaces lined by a single-layer endothelium, separated by collagenous stroma with no intervening brain parenchyma. Despite the congenital origin of CA, they rarely present in the neonatal and prenatal period. In this paper, we present a case report of a neonatal suprasellar CA that presented with a bleed. We also present a literature review focusing on specific features of intracranial CA in the neonatal and fetal age groups.

CASE REPORT

A 27-day-old neonate presented with a left eye ptosis for 2 days, followed by a generalized seizure. A head computed tomography revealed a suprasellar hematoma with intraventricular and subarachnoid extension. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hemorrhages of various ages. Magnetic resonance angiography did not reveal any vascular malformation. Surgical exploration of the suprasellar mass revealed a capsulated dense hematoma. Postoperatively, the neonate was weaned of artificial ventilation over a protracted period and remained hemiparetic with signs of third nerve palsy. Pathology revealed a CA. CA presenting as a suprasellar bleed with subarachnoid and intraventricular extension is very rare especially among neonates. To the best of our knowledge, 20 cases of CA have been reported in the neonatal and fetal period in the English literature. Neonatal CA in general and suprasellar location in particular are extremely rare lesions. Neonatal/fetal CA seems to present more aggressively and have a worse prognosis compared to those presenting at a later age.

A peri-trigonal giant tumefactive cavernous malformation: case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTION

Giant cavernous malformations (GCMs) constitute an uncommon entity in the diagnostic armamentarium of the neurosurgeon. We report a 3-year-old boy with a GCM in the peri-trigonal region and review 13 other paediatric cases previously reported in literature.

CASE

A 3-year-old boy presented with right-sided hemiparesis and features of raised intracranial pressure of short duration. Computed tomography showed a large left peri-trigonal mass with a bleed. Magnetic resonance imaging showed associated perilesional edema and mass effect, rendering the lesion a tumefactive appearance. He underwent total excision of the lesion, with subsequent recovery of hemiparesis. Histopathology was reported as a cavernoma.

DISCUSSION

The clinico-radiological presentation of GCM is discussed based on a case report and relevant cases in literature. Good surgical outcome can be expected with total microsurgical excision.

CONCLUSION

A giant cavernous malformation should be one of the differentials of a lesion with a tumefactive clinico-radiological presentation in children. There should be a high index of suspicion for such a diagnosis, especially when the lesion does not enhance with contrast. This is the third case report in paediatric literature describing a periventricular location of this unusual lesion.