[Neuroradiology, clinical picture and pathology of cerebral venous angiomas].

Twelve cases of venous angioma of the brain are presented. The neuroradiological and clinical findings in our series as well as in 45 previously reported cases are summarized. Angiography shows a normal arterial phase but consecutively a network or medusa-like pattern of numerous dilated medullary veins. converging towards one or several draining vessels with transcerebral course. The angiographic appearance is characteristic but not uniform, showing subgroups with faint blush, early filling veins and drainage into different directions. Some cases of venous malformations cannot be classified on the basis of angiographic findings and differentiation of telangiectases or cavernomas may be difficult. CT findings are non-specific, but contrast-enhanced CT almost invariably shows an enlarged transcerebral vessel, suggesting the presence of venous malformation. The lesion has to be classified as a vascular hamartoma. Although not an uncommon finding at autopsy venous angioma has been considered rare, because its clinical and radiological characteristics are little known. Though it may be asymptomatic, more than 30% of the reported cases (50% in our series) suffered from epileptic seizures. In about 10% of all cases symptoms of intracranial hemorrhage related to venous angioma were observed.