Cavernous Hemangioma - Thalmus

[Amy]

Dear Neurosurgery Forum Physician,

     Thank you so much for having this forum.  I have learned alot by reading through all the questions and answers.  
     I am 35 yrs old.  In 10/99 I had a bleed in the Thalmus of my brain. One day I noticed the right side of my face was numb. I thought it was fatigue and ignored it.  Three days later I woke up in the middle of the night and the left side of my body from head to toe felt tingly and numb.  There was an ever so slight headache behind my right eye. The next day I went to the doctor who sent me to the hospital. The doctors feel it is a 2 cm cavernous hemangioma right in the Thalmus. The did an MRI and angiography. I have a repeat MRI sch. in Feb. to make sure it is not a tumor. The sensation in the left side of my body still is tingly and numb and I notice I have headaches from time to time.  They want me to report any changes.  Some days my left side feels more tingly than other days and I have that sort of floaty dreamy sensation I had when I had the bleed.  The other thing is my short term memory seems to be affected and I am more tired than usual. I tend to make excuses like we're all tired, it's the holidays! Are these symptoms typical and do they improve? They said if I bleed again they will want to take me to surgery as my risk for death outweighs the risk for negative consequence of surgery.  I understand these gps of vessels have a tend to bleed, heal and rebleed.  How common is it to rebleed and does the chance of rebleed decrease with time?  Also, I have no children, would pregnancy put me at risk for rebleed? Finally, I plan to move to a location about 10000 ft in elevation.  Could this pose any problems?  Wow, I unloaded all my questions!  If you can help with any of these questions I really do appreciate it.
     Again, I appreciate your forum and want to say thanks for the time and interest you give us all.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Thanks for your comments.

CCF Neuro MD

[Shera]

Q.  I had an MRI done and my pcp told me that I had haemangioma.  He didn't state anything more than that and I unfortunately didn't ask.  My symptoms over the past few months include: headaches, neck pain, and burning in the generalized area of T1,T2.  He did state that it was a cluster of nerves sitting on T2.  I have an appointment in 4 weeks but I would like your opinion on the type of haemengioma and the treatment you think they would give.  Thanks

[Shera]

Q.  I had an MRI done and my pcp told me that I had haemangioma.  He didn't state anything more than that and I unfortunately didn't ask.  My symptoms over the past few months include: headaches, neck pain, and burning in the generalized area of T1,T2.  He did state that it was a cluster of nerves sitting on T2.  I have an appointment in 4 weeks but I would like your opinion on the type of haemengioma and the treatment you think they would give.  Thanks

[Katie]

I have learned alot from this forem and other web sites. Unfortunately, it all scares me to death.  I really feel like I have a death sentance.  I have had the cavernous angioma for 3 years and have had bleeding in my brain.  Mine is not in an area where surgery is possible.  I am just in a lot of pain from headaches and seizures.  I feel like I am a walking time bomb.  It scares me.  I read what I can but it still doesn't look like I have good chances for a hopeful outcome.  I do appreciate this forem though, because it does let me know I am not alone in this.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Shera:

Without knowing what type of hemangioma, I can't tell you much.


CCF Neuro MD

[jennifer]

I too am glad to hear that I am not alone.
I was in a car accident in Mar. 1991, right out of college. My head hit the windshield and I received several liesions on the forehead.  The night of the accident I was treated and released with no CT completed. I was at home and somewhat o.k. for 48hrs. then started sleeping constantly and having some tingling in the tips of my fingers which then lead to the left upper extremities and left side of the face, primarily in the V1-V2 distribution and some into the anterior V3. I then went to see another doctor at a different hospital whom stated that I looked o.k. by the in office neurological exam but because I had a head injury a CT should have been completed the night of the accident. I was given a CT scan and it was discovered that I had a bleed from a venous angiom in the superficical quadrigeminal area of the mid-brain. I also developed hydrocephalus on the brain which called for a VP shunt to be placed. I have what I have heard progressed remarkably although still develope times of tinglyness on the left side of the face. I have been seening a chiropractor where I have been receiving tense that has helped greatly with this. I do however, still experience headaches(mainly during my menstrual time) which are being treated with migraine medicine(Zomig). I have had a balt with anxiety through all of this feeling as if I am a walking time bomb, like others have felt. My main concern at this time is rather or not it is safe for me to have children. I am 31 yrs. of age and will be 32 in June and my husband and I would truly love to have a child of our own. Could you please give me your feelings on this and if you have ever had a patient with this. I have also been told that I not only have the venous angioma but also an either Carvenous Angioma(which most believe it is) or AVM. Please give me you input of the danger involved for me in having children and the percentage of death in having one of these.
I am so thankful that I have found you and am able to talk with others on this.
To others with this, if any of you have had children with this condition and could get back with me I would appreciate it. E-mail me at [email protected]. I hope I have not bored anyone but this means a lot to both my husband and myself. Thanks for the time and being there.