Spinal cavernoma diagnosis

Spinal cavernoma, or spinal cord cavernous malformations, is a rare health issue where unusual groups of blood vessels (cavernomas) form in the spinal canal. It looks like a raspberry and has blood flowing slowly through cave-like vessels. They can be tiny, just a few millimeters, or bigger, up to several centimeters wide. Spinal cavernoma can cause pain, weakness, numbness, and limb tingling. Difficulty walking, bowel or bladder control loss, and muscle stiffness are signs of the condition. To diagnose spinal cavernoma, the patient undergoes clinical evaluation with a consultation with a neurosurgeon. These help the medical team understand the patient's symptoms and overall health. Further, laboratory tests provide additional information about the patient's condition and help rule out other potential causes of the symptoms, like the tumor or inflammation. A neurological examination checks the patient's muscle strength, reflexes, sensation, and coordination. It helps identify any nervous system conditions related to spinal cavernoma. Finally, a spine CTA is done. CTA is an imaging method using X-rays and a special dye to identify blood vessels in the spinal cord, including changed ones. Once all the necessary tests and examinations are completed, the medical team can determine if the patient has a spinal cavernoma and discuss the appropriate treatment options.