Cerebral cavernous malformations (cavernomas): non-surgical treatments

Treatment of seizures

• Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)
• Magnetic resonance thermography guided stereotactic laser ablation (SLA)
• Stereotactic radiosurgery

Conservative treatment of spinal cavernomas

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS): indications

Laser thermal ablation: indications

Investigational treatments

Other treatments and recommendations

References

1. Akers AL, Albanese J, Alcazar-Felix RJ, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and clinical management of cavernous malformations of the brain and spinal cord: consensus recommendations based on a systematic literature review by the Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation Clinical Advisory Board Experts Panel. Neurosurgery 2026; 98:3-22.
2. Akers A, Al-Shahi Salman R, A Awad I, et al. Synopsis of guidelines for the clinical management of cerebral cavernous malformations: consensus recommendations based on systematic literature review by the Angioma Alliance Scientific Advisory Board Clinical Experts Panel. Neurosurgery 2017; 80:665-680.
3. Willie JT, Malcolm JG, Stern MA, et al. Safety and effectiveness of stereotactic laser ablation for epileptogenic cerebral cavernous malformations. Epilepsia 2019; 60:220-232.
4. McCracken DJ, Willie JT, Fernald BA, et al. Magnetic resonance thermometry-guided stereotactic laser ablation of cavernous malformations in drug-resistant epilepsy: imaging and clinical results. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2016; 12:39-48. 
5. Dumot C, Mantziaris G, Pikis S, et al. Epilepsy associated with cerebral cavernous malformations managed with stereotactic radiosurgery: an international, multicenter study. J Neurol 2023 (Online ahead of print).
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Related checklists

• Cerebral cavernous malformations (cavernomas): CT features
• Cerebral cavernous malformations (cavernomas): MRI features
• Cerebral cavernous malformations (cavernomas): surgical excision