Treatment analysis of 65 cases of brainstem cavernoma: case report and review

Objective To analyze and discuss the therapy and prognostic associated factors of brainstem cavernoma (BC).Methods 65 cases of brainstem cavernoma were admitted into neurosurgery department of Nanfang Hospital between January 2000 and December 2011,and 57 cases underwent surgery.Results Postoperative status was improved in 40 cases (70％).17 cases (30％) presented with transient new neurological deficits in early postoperative stage,which had all recovered in 6-month follow-up.Lesion size and intracranial hypertension were associated with the location of lesion.Surgical timing and preoperative mRS were associated with the prognosis.Conclusions Microsurgery has gradually been the tendency of treatment of brainstem cavernoma.Precise preoperative examination and assistive technologies such as neuronavigation,electrophysiological monitoring and mapping,could provide reliable guarantee for the successful proceeding of surgery. Key words: Brainstem;  Cavernoma;  Surgery;  Prognosis