Mayo Clinic's E. Paul Lindell, M.D. , Kelly D. Flemming, M.D. , and Giuseppe Lanzino, M.D. , explain what a cavernous malformation is and how Mayo Clinic's team uses advanced imaging systems to evaluate the right path of care for the patient.
Mayo Clinic's team of experts use a 7-tesla MRI to gain enhanced imaging. This enables better understanding of a malformation's structure and treatment options for each patient.
Mayo Clinic is an Angioma Alliance Center of Excellence for cavernous malformations.
Yeah, getting the diagnosis right the first time is critical. It offers immediate therapy. It offers closure When we look at the M. R. I. We see a characteristic pattern of signal that helps us understand that this is a cavernous malformation as opposed to other lesions. Cavernous malformation is an abnormal tangle of dilated blood vessels. The classic analogy is that of a mulberry and that's the gross appearance of a cavernous malformation. A lot of patients have encountered physicians that have never heard of a cavernous malformation or maybe have seen two in their lifetime. So I think the thing that we offer here at Mayo Clinic is the individual evaluation of the patient and their symptoms. Most vascular diseases are very unique to the patient. There are a number of technologies here at Mayo that we use in the department of radiology uh that are not widespread. One of those is a seven tesla m. r. i. Which allows us to see with greater resolution within the brain. Okay, Treatment entails a number of steps. No one. Are we sure that the spot the cavernous malformation is the cause of the symptoms that the patients having. And if so, do we take that cavernous malformation out or leave it in. Secondly, we address the symptoms. We have a number of neurosurgeons that specialize in cavernous malformations as well as very delicate brain surgeries. The care here allows true collaboration, it allows me to on a daily basis. Even I would say continuously consult with my colleagues in other departments. It's important to try as much as possible to treat the patient as one of our family members. And I think that if we're able to do that, you are already a very good doctor because you always worry and you don't take anything for granted.
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