How to Diagnose Cavernous Angioma in the Spine

A cavernous angioma is a blood vessel abnormality specific to the capillaries that occurs in the central nervous system. The capillaries become enlarged and have little to no intervening nervous tissue between them. It occurs in about .4 percent of the population with many cavernous angioma patients (18.7 percent) experiencing multiple legions. In order to diagnose a cavernous angioma, you need to pay attention to the patient's symptoms and to consult a doctor (specifically a neurologist) whom can order the proper tests.

Instructions

• 1

  Check for symptoms. Cavernous angiomas typically produce several of the following symptoms: seizures, headache, hemorrhage or compression of surrounding brain tissue (called mass effect). Mass effect can cause weakness, numbness, double vision, visual disturbance or language difficulties. Note, however, that 11 percent of cavernous angiomas have no symptoms at all.

• 2

  Consult a doctor. The symptoms are common to a multitude of problems that may or may not be related to a cavernous angioma. In fact, said symptoms may signal a much more serious problem. If seizures, numbness, double vision, visual disturbances, or language problems appear, you may need to transport the patient to the hospital. If you experience these symptoms, do not attempt to drive yourself, call an ambulance or have somebody transport you immediately to the hospital. If it is not an emergency situation,you should still schedule an appointment with a doctor whom may refer the patient to a neurologist.

• 3

  List all of the symptoms, even those that do not accompany a cavernous angioma (as the problem may be something else). If the patient cannot remember all of the symptoms, keep a running list of symptoms as they happen. This will help make sure you remember everything so that the doctor can get a clear idea of the condition.

• 4

  Schedule an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, if your doctor recommends it. An MRI scans the area of the difficulty (typically the brain, but it may also be used to identify spinal cord lesions). It is often able to show show small areas of new or old hemorrhages around the cavernous angioma.