Duke Cerebrovascular Center offers experienced diagnosis and treatment of cavernous malformations, or cavernomas, of the brain and spinal cord.

Cavernous malformations are abnormal, dilated vessels that appear reddish purple from blood building up. These cavernomas can be found in any region of the brain and spinal cord and can vary in shape and size.

Cavernomas are most dangerous when they occur in the brain or spinal cord and cause bleeding. This bleeding can be very small and produce mild or no symptoms in some patients, but in other situations, it can result in death.

Cavernomas in the brain stem bleed and cause problems at a much higher rate than cavernomas elsewhere in the brain and spinal cord.

Diagnosis

Cavernomas are often detected after a patient suffers from seizures, bleeding, or headaches. We use computed tomography (CT) and magnetic image resonance (MRI) scans to detect these dilated blood vessels.

Treatment

Cavernomas are treated with surgery. Gavin Britz, MD, has a special interest in cavernomas of the brain stem. He has experience and expertise in treating them surgically using neuronavigation and skull-base approaches.

Appointments

For information about scheduling an appointment with a specific doctor, visit the Contact Us page.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Zomorodi, Ali R.
  • Surgery / Neurosurgery

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke Health Center at Morreene Road (Neuroscience)
  932 Morreene Road, Durham, NC 27705
• Duke Neurosurgery of Raleigh
  3480 Wake Forest Road, Suite 410, Raleigh, NC 27609
• Duke University Hospital
  2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710