Intracranial venous malformations : Causes-Symptoms-Diagnosis-Treatment

 What are Intracranial Venous Malformations?

Intracranial blood vessel malformations square measure abnormally enlarged veins in your brain. These enlargements are not doubtless to cause symptoms or have an effect on however the veins work.

What are Intracranial Venous Malformations?
Intracranial Venous Malformations



Intracranial blood vessel malformations may stay unseen or be found incidentally once you have a brain-imaging take a look at for one more condition.

Most often, this condition does not need treatment.

  1. Circulatory system
  1. Brain




Medical terms

  • Intracranial blood vessel malformations, conjointly referred to as tube-shaped structure or cerebral malformations, square measure blood vessels, or veins, in your brain that became abnormally massive. Traditional vase walls permit blood to pass freely. Once distorted, the cells of the wall become swollen, fastening down the natural blood flow and generally leading to blood clots.

A groin bulge or varicose vein which is the most common venous malformation

Synonyms of Vascular Malformations of the Brain

  • Cerebral Malformations, Vascular

  • Intracranial Vascular Malformations

  • Occult Intracranial Vascular Malformations

Subdivisions of Vascular Malformations of the Brain

  • Arteriovenous Malformation

  • Cavernous Malformations

  • Mixed Malformations

  • Telangiectasis

  • Vein of Galen Malformation

  • Venous Malformations

As the name suggests, tube-shaped structure malformations of the brain is an associate degree umbrella term for a minimum of six conditions within which blood vessels of the brain square measure are affected. Such malformations are classified into many sorts within which the symptoms, severity, and causes vary. These sorts of VMB are: (1) blood vessel malformations (AVM), abnormal arteries and veins; (2) cavernous malformations (CM), enlarged bloody spaces; (3) blood vessel angiomas (VA), abnormal veins; (4) telangiectasias (TA), enlarged capillary-sized vessels; (5) vein of Galen malformations (VGM); and (6) mixed malformations (MM).

Symptoms Intracranial venous malformations

  • Vascular malformations of the brain might cause headaches, seizures, strokes, or hemorrhage within the brain (cerebral hemorrhage). Some researchers believe that the kind of malformation determines the symptoms and progression of the sickness. Different researchers believe that solely the severity instead of the kind of malformation is vital.
  • Arteriovenous malformations or AVMs have an effect on arteries, veins, and middle- sized vessels however not capillaries. These blood vessels are enlarged, twisted, and tangled. Arteries and veins is also connected directly rather than being connected through fine capillaries that reason {they are|they're} usually brought up as “shunt lesions' ' since the capillaries are by-passed. These abnormal “feeding” arteries increasingly enlarge and as a result the “draining” veins dilate. The brain tissue between these vessels is also hardened or rigid (atrophied), jam-packed with a network of fine little fibers (fibrils) interspersed with two-dimensional cells (gliotic), and generally is also calcified. Such malformations might, by drawing blood faraway from the brain, cause nerve cell atrophy. Hemorrhages or seizures are usually veteran with AVMs. (For additional data on this disorder select “Arteriovenous' ' for your search term within the Rare sickness info.)
  • Cavernous malformations, CMs (also known as cavernous angiomas, or cavernous hemangiomas, or cavernomas) gift as abnormally enlarged collections of bloody areas. A cavernous haemangioma acts sort of a “blood sponge” absorbing blood that has found its means between capillaries, within the areas between tissues (sinusoids) and “larger cavernous areas.” These are “slow-flow lesions.” there's not typically any brain tissue in these areas in distinction with symptoms of AVMs. Hemorrhages or seizures also are common with CMs. (For additional data on this disorder select “cavernous hemangioma” for your search term within the Rare sickness info.)
  • Venous angiomas (VAs) involve enlarged, tangled, and twisted veins that fluctuate in size however don't involve the arteries. The location of those “growths” is most frequently simply once the capillary stage of the vessel (post-capillary malformation). they'll be isolated defects or related to cavernous malformations. The defect shows itself as a “crown” of little veins (venules) that meet to make a part of a bigger vein (trunk).
  • Telangiectasias are the malformations that arise as a result of the enlarging (dilation) of the little capillaries. These expanded capillaries build themselves called little pink-red spots in numerous components of the body like the face, eyes, membranes that cowl the brain (dura) and funiculus (meninges), and mucous membranes (the skinny damp layer lining the body’s internal surfaces). (For additional data on a disorder involving telangiectasias select “hemorrhagic telangiectasia, hereditary” for your search term within the Rare sickness info.)
  • Veins of Galen malformations (VGMs begin whereas the embryo is developing. The vein of Galen is found below the cerebral hemispheres and drains the forward (anterior) and central regions of the brain into the right sinuses. The malformations occur once the vein of Galen isn't supported among the top by close tissue and lacks the traditional fibrous wall. Thus, the vein of Galen seems free-floating among the fluids of the cerebral areas (sinuses). ought to increase the pressure among the vein of Galen, its form changes from a cylinder to a sphere. Such changes are in the course of abnormal craniate blood circulation. In extreme cases, there is also viscus failure or swelling of the brain (hydrocephalus).

Mixed malformation could be a phrase accustomed to embodying any of many multiple-mixed malformations. Frequently, these malformations seem to be mixes of blood vessel malformations with telangiectasias.

Causes Intracranial venous malformations

  • Three sorts or kinds of VMB have a genetic part. The proof for a genetic cause is powerful within the case of cavernous hemangiomas and telangiectasias. The case is way weaker for blood vessel malformation of the brain (AVM). In every of those cases, the condition is transmitted as a chromosome dominant attribute. The haywire cistron within the case of cavernous malformations has been half-tracked to cistron map locus 7q11.2-q21, and within the case of telangiectasia to cistron map locus 9q34.1.
  • Chromosomes, that area unit gift within the nucleus of human cells, carry the genetic info for every individual. figure cells commonly have forty six chromosomes. Pairs of human chromosome area units numbered from one through twenty two and therefore the sex chromosome area unit selected X and Y. Males have one X and one Y chromosome and females have 2 X chromosomes. Every body incorporates a short arm selected “p” and a protracted arm selected “q”. Chromosomes are subdivided into several bands that are numbered. As an example, “chromosome 9q34.1” refers to band thirty four.1 on the long arm of body seven. The numbered bands specify the placement of the thousands of genes that are a unit gift on every body.
  • To say that the abnormal cistron is found at 7q11.2-q21 implies that the cistron in question is found during a region on the long arm of body seven between bands eleven.2 and 21.
  • Genetic diseases are a unit determined by the mix of genes for a selected attribute that is a unit on the chromosomes received from the daddy and therefore the mother. Dominant cistrontic disorders occur once solely one copy of AN abnormal gene is critical for the looks of the illness. The abnormal cistron will be familial from either parent, or will be the results of a replacement mutation (gene change) within the affected individual. The danger of passing the abnormal cistron from affected parent to offspring is five hundredth for every maternity no matter the sex of the ensuing kid.
  • Recessive cistrontic disorders occur once a person inherits an equivalent abnormal gene for an equivalent attribute from every parent. If a person receives one traditional cistron and one cistron for the illness, the person is going to be a carrier for the illness however typically won't show symptoms. The danger for 2 carrier elders to each pass the defective cistron and, therefore, have AN affected kid is twenty fifth with every maternity. The danger to own a baby by the World Health Organization may be a carrier just like the elders is five hundredth with every maternity. the possibility for a baby to receive traditional genes from each oldsters and be genetically traditional for that individual attribute is twenty fifth. The danger is the same for males and females.
  • All people carry a couple of abnormal genes. oldsters World Health Organization area unit shut relatives (consanguineous) have the next probability than unrelated oldsters to each carry an equivalent abnormal cistron, that will increase the danger to own kids with a recessive hereditary condition.
  • X-linked recessive cistrontic disorders area unit conditions caused by AN abnormal gene on the X chromosome. Females have 2 X bodys however one among the X chromosomes is “turned off” and every one of the genes thereon chromosome area unit inactivated. Females World Health Organization have an illness cistron gift on one among their X chromosomes area unit carriers for that disorder. Carrier females typically don't show symptoms of the disorder as a result of it's typically the X chromosome with the abnormal cistron that's “turned off”. A male has one X chromosome ANd if he inherits an X chromosome that contains an illness cistron, he can develop the illness. Males with sex chromosome disorders pass the illness cistron to all or any of their daughters, World Health Organization are going to be carriers. A male cannot pass AN X-linked gene to his sons as a result of males continuously passing their Y chromosome rather than their X chromosome to man-child. feminine carriers of AN sex chromosome disorder have a twenty fifth probability with every maternity to own a carrier female offspring like themselves, a twenty fifth probability to own a non-carrier female offspring, a twenty fifth probability to own a son affected with the illness, ANd a twenty fifth probability to own an unaffected son.
  • X-linked dominant disorders also are caused by AN abnormal cistron on the X chromosome, however in these rare conditions, females with AN abnormal cistron area unit are affected with the illness. Males with AN abnormal cistron area unit are severely affected than females, and plenty of those males don't survive.

Vascular malformations of the brain have an effect on males and females in equal numbers. A hereditary kind of cavernous malformations tends to occur in Mexican-Americans. Blood vessel malformations occur additionally often in males.

Related Disorders

Symptoms of the subsequent disorders will be just like those of vascular malformations of the brain. Comparisons is also helpful for a differential diagnosis:

Moyamoya illness

Moyamoya illness could be a progressive illness that affects blood vessels within the brain (cerebrovascular). It's characterized by narrowing and/or closing of the most artery to the brain (carotid) that decreases the blood supply. This lack of blood might cause semi- or complete palsy of the feet, legs or the higher extremities. Cerebral hemorrhage, convulsions, headaches, varied vision issues, mental deficiencies, and medical specialty issues might also occur. (For a lot of data on this disorder, opt for “Moyamoya” as your search term within the Rare illness info.

Cerebral cardiovascular disease

An aneurysm is the dilation, bulging, or flight of a part of the wall of a vein or artery within the brain. Cerebral aneurysms will occur at any age, though ar|they're} a lot of common in adults than in youngsters and are slightly more common in girls than in men.

The signs associated with Nursing symptoms of an unruptured aneurysm can partially depend upon its size and its rate of growth. For instance, a small, unchanging cardiovascular disease can typically produce no symptoms, whereas a bigger cardiovascular disease that's steadily growing might manufacture symptoms like loss of feeling within the face or issues with the eyes. Now before Associate in Nursing cardiovascular disease ruptures, a private might experience such symptoms as an unexpected and remarkably severe headache, nausea, vision impairment, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

Cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) occur as a result of the blood provided to the brain has been discontinued or decreased . Thrombotic strokes occur once a clot has narrowed or fully closed Associate in Nursing artery within the neck or head. This can sometimes be the result of the buildup of fat-containing materials and atomic number 20 (plaque) on the inner linings of the blood vessels (atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries). Clot strokes occur once a clot breaks off from an unhealthy artery in another part of the body or the guts and clogs a smaller artery within the brain. hurt strokes occur once a vas ruptures in or round the brain, depriving that space of current blood.

Each kind of stroke has its own symptoms, progression, and prognosis. Clumsiness, headaches, speech difficulties, weakness or palsy of 1 or each side of the body might occur. Stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness also are common symptoms.

Do venous malformations go away?

The recurrence of venous malformations (VM) is very small They are vascular structures and have a propensity to remain large even after treatment If no treatment is applied they can enlarge with age There is the possibility that in some cases VM may spontaneously regress or resolve with time but not in all patients Some people have reported regression on their own without medical management over a period of many years However this has not been well studied and there is no consensus on it based on sufficient evidence yet Thus one should be cautious about stopping medical therapy as it could lead to worsening of symptoms and ultimately may need surgical intervention.

Can a venous malformation burst?

Venous malformations are non-cancerous lesions that occur in the deep veins of the body They may range from pea to grape size and exhibit dark red blue or black colors in various areas of the body Although they initially present as a smooth raised bump under the skin they can eventually become flat bluish or black patches which resemble bruises or birthmarks Venous malformations can affect people of any age but often appear after puberty.

Are vascular malformations painful?

When looking at the many different areas that can be affected by vascular malformations (VM) it is easy to see how patients with these birth defects suffer from a variety of symptoms.

How do you fix venous malformation?

Venous Malformation is a vascular disorder that affects the veins throughout the body Most of these moles or lesions are not symptomatic and do not require any treatment However when they become large enough to cause pain or discomfort or interfere with daily activities treatment is available Men are twice as likely to develop this condition than women and it usually develops between ages 15-25 years old.

Diagnosis Intracranial venous malformations

Imaging equipment, like resonance imaging (MRI), computerized axial tomography (CT) scans, venograms and/or digital blood vessels or common roentgenography will take photos of the brain's blood vessels to examine if tube malformations are a unit gift.

Because you are unlikely to possess symptoms of intracranial blood vessel malformations, your doctor may realize that you just have the condition throughout testing for different medical specialty considerations.

You might endure these imaging tests to diagnose different medical specialty conditions:


  • CT scan. A CT scan creates a series of X-rays to make elaborated, cross-sectional pictures of your blood vessels and your brain. In some cases, dye is injected into a vein to assess the brain tissue or the blood vessels in bigger detail (CT X ray or CT venogram).

  • MRI. Magnetic and radio waves produce careful 3-D pictures of your blood vessels and brain. In some cases a distinction dye is injected into a vein to seem at the brain tissue in an exceedingly completely different method, and to judge your blood vessels (magnetic resonance roentgenography or resonance venography)

Treatment Intracranial venous malformations

Current treatment choices vary in keeping with the severity and site of the malformation. Surgical removal (resection), multiple embolization (an operation during which pellets are placed into the vascular system so as to dam blood flow to and/or from the abnormal blood vessels), and irradiation are the treatments presently in use. In some cases, treatment might not be necessary. Recently introduced techniques involve ray and stereotaxic radio-surgery. Counsel is also of profit for patients and their families if they need a hereditary variety of this disorder. Different treatments are symptomatic and adjunct.

Doctors sometimes do not treat intracranial blood vessel malformations as a result of they seldom cause symptoms. If you have got unrelated symptoms, like headaches, your doctor would possibly bring down medications.

Rarely, folks that have intracranial blood vessel malformations have seizures or hemorrhage within the brain (brain hemorrhage). These are sometimes caused by different tube-shaped structure malformations that may be found with a blood vessel malformation. Doctors usually treat seizures with medications.

Some hemorrhages need surgery, however several hemorrhages are often treated with medical management and observation in an exceedingly hospital.

  1. Rehabilitation of The Brain and Nerves

General summary

  1. A venous malformation that occurs in the brain is called a cerebral cavernous sinus malformation or CCSM Blood vessels in the brain normally get their nutrition from two sources: capillaries and venules When blood vessels begin to proliferate abnormally they form moles in the brain—also known as CCSMs These non-cancerous growths account for about 10% of all brain tumors and are mostly found in young patients between 20 and 40 years of age.


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