Rapid growth of a brain-stem cavernous angioma.

A rare case of rapidly enlarging cavernous angiomas of the cerebral hemispheres and brain stem in a child is reported. Rapid growth of cavernous malformations of the brain is rarely observed; it may be due to different mechanisms, including enlargement of the vascular channels, hemorrhage and cysts formation. The possibility of progressive enlargement of cavernomas makes periodical MR studies necessary in all cases. When the growth is radiologically documented, surgical removal is imperative even in patients with trivial symptoms.