Understanding Cerebrovascular Disorders

There are a variety of cerebrovascular disorders, each needing a different approach to treatment.  The USC Neurology and Neurosurgery program offers a comprehensive approach with physicians specially trained to handle each disorder. 

Most cerebrovascular disorders fall into the following categories.

Cerebral, or Brain, Aneurysm
Aneurysms are weak spots in the walls of arteries that balloon out over time.  These “balloons” have walls that are thin and can rupture, causing severe bleeding in or around the brain.  The cause of an aneurysm is generally unknown.  Certain conditions may predispose a person to develop one, such as polycystic kidneys, lupus, Erhlers Danlos syndrome or, occasionally, high blood pressure.

Cavernous Angioma/Cavernos Malformation
Cavernous angiomas are benign vascular lesions composed of thin walled, irregular caverns that do not have large feeding arteries or draining veins involved.  Sometimes, a person may have multiple lesions.  They can appear in both the cranium and the spine.  These lesions are probably congenital, and genetic factors may play a role, although often they do not appear on imaging studies until adulthood.

Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
High-flow tangles of blood vessels that are formed before or near birth are called arteriovenous malformations.  The natural transition between high flow arteries and low flow veins, called capillaries, are missing.  The result is a large tangle of thin walled blood vessels with fast flowing blood coursing through the ‘nidus’, or nest, of vessels.

Stroke
To learn more, Conditions and Treatments/Stroke.

Diagnosing Cerebrovascular Disorders

The symptoms vary for each disorder, but can include severe headaches, neck stiffness, nausea, seizure, drooping eyelids, numbness or temporary paralysis.  It is very important to seek emergency care immediately if any brain disorder is suspected.  Time is an urgent factor for successful treatment.

Diagnostic testing will involve either CT or MRI scans of the brain to begin the process. Choosing the USC Neurology and Neurosurgery physicians will provide patients with both state-of-the-art diagnostic technology as well as access to all treatment options at USC University Hospital.

Treatment Options

Treatment recommendations will vary according to diagnosis.  Our neurosurgeons are highly trained to advise in this area. 

Options for aneurysms include: coil embolization – packing the aneurysm full of soft platinum coils and clipping – a surgical procedure that places a clamp across the base of the aneurysm so it no longer fills with blood.

Options for cavernous angioma include: intermittent scans to follow the development of the lesion; and surgery.  Radiosurgery has not proved successful for treatment of this disorder.

Options for arteriovenous malformations include:  radiosurgery if indicated; surgery.

Fight On!
Contact Us

Learn more about our neurosurgery physicians at Faculty.

Keck Hospital of USC
Department of Neurosurgery
(323) 442-6290
nsmessage@med.usc.edu