Gamma Knife Treatment of Cavernous Hemangioma

Usually cavernous hemangioma (AOVM) belongs to one of the common types of occult hemangiomatous malformations. x-ray cerebral angiography shows no abnormal changes, and pathohistological examination shows vascular malformations. Cavernous hemangioma is a spongy abnormal vascular mass composed of thin-walled blood vessels of varying sizes, interspersed with loose connective tissue and containing no brain tissue. The distinct input arteries and output veins are usually not visible. It is histologically classified as a cerebrovascular malformation and is not a true tumor. Its vessel wall consists of endothelial cells and fibroblasts, lacks muscular and elastic fibers, and the lumen is filled with blood and may contain fresh and old thrombi. Due to the thin wall and lack of elasticity of the blood vessels in cavernous hemangioma lesions, they are prone to rupture and hemorrhage, which can cause intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Modern treatment of cavernous hemangioma is still based on surgical resection, and located in the important functional area surgical risk is higher, now it is believed that cavernous hemangioma is sensitive to radiation, radiotherapy can make the tumor shrink, intratumoral vascular deformation and narrowing and intratumoral thrombosis. For cavernous hemangiomas located in important functional areas where surgical resection is difficult and cavernous hemangiomas located in non-important functional areas where the patient does not agree to surgery, gamma knife therapy has been adopted.