What is Venous Angioma?
Venous angiomas are abnormally enlarged veins in your brain, and the most common cerebral vascular malformations. They are generally low pressure vascular structures draining normal brain tissue.
They are unlikely to cause symptoms or affect how the veins work. However, those diagnosed with a venous angioma often suffer from headaches as the most common symtpom. Brain hemmorages from this condition, while rare, can occur.
Most often, a venous angioma does not require treatment. However, our South Florida neurosurgery clinic possesses specialized knowledge and capabilities when treatment does become necessary.
Symptoms
An angioma rarely causes symptoms. They often remain undetected and only found incidentally when you have a brain-imaging test for another condition.
When symptoms do present, they can include:
- Frequent or severe headaches
- Bleeding
- Seizures
- Hemifacial spasm
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Aqueduct compression
- Nonhemorrhagic infarction
- Thrombosis
Even in the rare cases where the lesion is bleeding, it can be managed conservatively in otherwise asymptomatic patients.
Learn more about your specific symptoms, and if they require treatment, at our South Florida neurosurgery clinic. Schedule an e-consult.
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Treatment of Venous Angioma Side Effects
This condition rarely causes symptoms. Therefore, treatment of this condition in particular is often unnecessary.
However, if you have symptoms such as headaches, or other venous angioma side effects, Dr. Morrison may admit you into the care of our Comprehensive Headache Clinic, as well as prescribe medications.
Rarely, people who have intracranial venous malformations have seizures or a brain hemorrhage. These are usually caused by other vascular malformations that can be found with a venous malformation. These seizures are typically treated with medications and/or observation in a hospital.
Schedule an e-consult with Dr. Morrison to discuss treatment of your angioma side effects today.
Venous Malformation Treatment
When venous angioma treatment is indeed required, there are three common ways to remove the offending lesion:
- Electrodesiccation uses an electric needle to destroy the blood vessels in the growth
- Cryosurgery involves using liquid nitrogen to freeze away the damaged cells
- Laser treatment uses a beam of intense, focused light to remove the growth
Venous Angioma Prognosis
Most angiomas will grow for the first 3 to 5 months of life, then begin to shrink. Almost 50% disappear by the age of 5, and the vast majority are gone by age 10.
As they are very rarely dangerous, long-term follow-up or imaging is often likewise unnecessary. In the vast majority of cases, venous angioma prognosis is a healthy, productive and high quality of life.
Immediately following surgery, I was standing and walking pain free. I am enjoying my life again and have Dr. Morrison to thank!
Schedule your Venous Angioma e-consult
We’ll educate you on the specifics of your Venous Angioma condition, and develop a plan for your best quality of life.
