May 6th, 2022 - Diagnosis Neurology consultation A Mayo Clinic neurologist converses with a woman about her diagnosis. Often, people with cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) don't show any signs or symptoms. Your diagnosis may result from brain imaging for other neurological conditions. In some cases, specific symptoms may prompt your health care provider to pursue more extensive testing. Tests Depending o...

May 6th, 2022 - Overview Cerebral cavernous malformation Open pop-up dialog box Close Cerebral cavernous malformation Cerebral cavernous malformation A cerebral cavernous malformation is an abnormally formed blood vessel, shaped like a small mulberry, which can form in the brain or spinal cord and may result in a wide range of neurological symptoms. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are groups of tightly...

May 3rd, 2022 - Vascular rings Normal heart and heart with vascular ring Open pop-up dialog box Close Normal heart and heart with vascular ring Normal heart and heart with vascular ring A vascular ring is a malformation of the aortic arch anatomy, where vessels partly or completely encircle the trachea and esophagus. A normal heart with a normal aortic arch is shown on the left. An example of a vascular ring —...

Apr 19th, 2022 - Overview What is Dandy-Walker syndrome? Dandy-Walker syndrome is sometimes called Dandy-Walker malformation or just Dandy-Walker. It’s a congenital brain malformation that causes an issue with how the brain forms. It is congenital meaning a baby is born with the condition, and it occurs as the baby develops during pregnancy. Dandy-Walker involves the cerebellum and the spaces around it. The cer...

Mar 23rd, 2022 - Dural arteriovenous fistula care at Mayo Clinic Expert care for dural arteriovenous fistulas Mayo Clinic doctors bring extensive diagnostic and surgical expertise to dAVF diagnosis and treatment to improve patients' prognoses and outcomes. Team approach Doctors trained in neurology, neurosurgery and neuroradiology work together to treat people who have dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs). Chil...

Mar 23rd, 2022 - Overview Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are abnormal connections between an artery and a vein in the tough covering over the brain or spinal cord (dura mater). In this rare condition, abnormal passageways between arteries and veins (arteriovenous fistulas) may occur in the brain, spinal cord or other areas of your body. Dural AVFs tend to occur later in life (50 to 60 years of age), and t...

Mar 23rd, 2022 - Diagnosis Neurology consultation A Mayo Clinic neurologist converses with a woman about her diagnosis. Brain MRI scan An MRI is administered to a person. If you have signs or symptoms of a dural arteriovenous fistula, your doctor may recommend that you undergo diagnostic imaging (radiology) tests. For dural arteriovenous fistulas, these may include: Initial imaging. Initial evaluation typically...

Feb 27th, 2022 - Overview Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) What is an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)? An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle (like a bird’s nest) of blood vessels. The tangle is made of arteries that would normally supply brain tissue and veins that would normally drain brain tissue. How exactly do arteries and veins normally connect and what happens when they don’t properly...

Feb 12th, 2022 - Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome care at Mayo Clinic Multispecialty teamwork. Doctors who specialize in vascular medicine, vascular and endovascular surgery, skin diseases (dermatology), interventional radiology, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pediatric and adolescent medicine, and other specialties as needed offer personalized treatment options. This coordinated approach i...

Jan 19th, 2022 - Overview Syringomyelia cyst (syrinx) in the spinal cord Open pop-up dialog box Close Syringomyelia cyst (syrinx) in the spinal cord Syringomyelia cyst (syrinx) in the spinal cord Syringomyelia develops when cerebrospinal fluid, which usually flows around the outside of your brain and spinal cord, collects inside your spinal cord and forms a fluid-filled cyst (syrinx). Syringomyelia (sih-ring-go...

Jan 19th, 2022 - Diagnosis Your doctor will ask about your medical history and do a complete physical examination. In some cases, syringomyelia might be discovered incidentally during a spine MRI or CT scan conducted for other reasons. If your doctor suspects syringomyelia, you'll likely undergo tests such as: MRI. An MRI of your spine and spinal cord is the most reliable tool for diagnosing syringomyelia. An M...

Sep 24th, 2021 - Overview Chiari malformation Open pop-up dialog box Close Chiari malformation Chiari malformation In Chiari malformation surgery, doctors remove a small section of bone at the back of your skull to make room for part of your brain (cerebellum) and relieve pressure on your brainstem, cerebellum and spinal cord. Chiari malformation (kee-AH-ree mal-for-MAY-shun) is a condition in which brain tissu...

Sep 24th, 2021 - Diagnosis To diagnose your condition, your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms and conduct a physical examination. Your doctor will also order imaging tests to diagnose your condition and determine its cause. Tests may include: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI is often used to diagnose Chiari malformation. An MRI uses powerful radio waves and magnets to create a detaile...

Sep 24th, 2021 - Chiari malformation care at Mayo Clinic Your Mayo Clinic care team Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons), and brain and nervous system conditions in children (pediatric neurologists and pediatric neurosurgeons) work together with other specialists to diagnose Chiari malformation and determine the most ...

Aug 26th, 2021 - Overview What is a cavernous hemangioma? A cavernous hemangioma is an abnormal cluster of tightly packed, thin-walled capillaries (smallest blood vessels). The thin walls of these capillaries make hemangiomas prone to bleeding. The blood within the capillaries is usually slow-moving or not moving at all. Cavernous hemangiomas mostly occur in your brain or brainstem, but can sometimes occur in y...

May 28th, 2021 - Overview Central nervous system vascular malformations are rare abnormalities of blood vessels in your brain or spinal cord and their membranes. There are several types of central nervous system vascular malformations, including: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Arteriovenous malformations are abnormal tangles of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins. AVMs may occur anywhere in the bod...

May 28th, 2021 - Central nervous system vascular malformation care at Mayo Clinic Your Mayo Clinic care team Mayo Clinic doctors trained in nervous system conditions (neurologists); brain, spine and peripheral nerve surgery (neurosurgeons); hereditary conditions (medical geneticists); radiology; radiation oncology; and other specialties work together as a multidisciplinary team to care for people who have centr...

Mar 18th, 2021 - Overview What is hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT)? Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder that affects blood vessels. In HHT, also called Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, either the small capillaries are abnormal and these are called telangiectasias and/or the capillary connection between arteries and veins are abnormal and these are called arteriovenous malform...

Feb 4th, 2021 - Overview Anti-Fungal Medication and Birth Defects. What are birth defects? A birth defect is something abnormal about your newborn baby’s body. Every four and a half minutes, a baby in the United States is born with a birth defect. A defect, which can affect almost any part of your baby’s body, can be: Visibly obvious, like a missing arm or a birthmark. Internal (inside the body), like a kidney...

Jan 13th, 2021 - Overview A subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding in the space between your brain and the surrounding membrane (subarachnoid space). The primary symptom is a sudden, severe headache. The headache is sometimes associated with nausea, vomiting and a brief loss of consciousness. Bleeding usually results from the rupture of an abnormal bulge in a blood vessel (aneurysm) in your brain. Sometimes bleedi...