How are Cavernoma Diagnosed?
MRI scans are mainly used to diagnose cavernomas.
‘Magnetic resonance imaging’.
As symptoms are not always evident, many people are only diagnosed with a cavernoma after having an MRI scan for another reason. This is called an incidental finding.
On an MRI scan cavernomas look like a raspberry with a ring around it.
The ring appearance is hemosiderin deposition.
Hemosiderin is iron, a byproduct of the breakdown of blood. This blood has oozed/haemorrhaged from the cavernoma.
An MRI is considered the most sensitive and specific technique for detecting cavernomas. Specific MRI sequences must be used - specifically T2-weighted and gradient echo (also referred to as T2-star).
MRI Scan Images with Cavernoma
Brain
Spinal cord
Other scans are sometimes used to identify a cavernoma include a CT ‘computed tomography’ scan. Unless the cavernoma is large it is difficult to see it on a CT scan.
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It is sometimes used in the emergency room to quickly identify bleeds.
Genetic testing can be done to test for the gene mutation.
However, this is usually only done once a person presents with 2 or more cavernomas or has a family history of them. The results of the test can confirm if it is hereditary.
Occasionally following neurosurgery to remove all or part of a suspected cavernoma, lab analysis will be done to confirm diagnosis.
