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.
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.
