Cavernous angioma
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Cavernous angiomas are benign connective tissue tumors caused by abnormal proliferation of endothelial cells resulting in malformations of the vascular supply. Most often they are found in the brain, spinal cord, liver and, rarely, in other areas of the body. A typical cavernous angioma looks somewhat like a raspberry, but it can range in size from microscopic to inches in diameter. It is non-encapsulated, with an infiltrative, lobular growing. It is made of multiple little bubbles (caverns) of various sizes, filled with blood and lined by a special layer of cells (endothelium). These cells are similar to those that line normal blood vessels, but the bubble-like structures of a cavernous angioma are leaky and lack the other layers of normal blood vessel wall. These interconnected spaces are filled with blood and separated by a fibrous tissue. Patients may be asymptomatic or have headaches, seizures, stroke symptoms and hemorrhages.
External links
- The Angioma Alliance (http://www.angiomaalliance.org/)
- Atlas of Pathology (http://www.pathologyatlas.ro/Hemangioma.html)