Newly Diagnosed
Many Names, One Disease: Cavernous Angioma, Cerebral Cavernous Malformation, Cavernoma
Cavernous Malformations
Cavernous angioma, cavernoma, and cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) are synonyms for mulberry-shaped abnormal blood vessels in the brain or spinal cord. These lesions can hemorrhage and cause stroke and seizure at any age, including in children.
Sporadic cavernous angioma is the most common form of the illness. Sporadic cases are defined as having no family history and no inherited mutation. Generally, affected individuals have only one lesion.
Familial cavernous angioma is caused by a single gene mutation in one of three different genes, CCM1, CCM2, or CCM3. In familial cavernous angioma, it is typical to develop multiple lesions and to have affected family members in consecutive generations.
The Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformations
The Alliance to Cure provides you with the information and support needed to understand your cavernous angioma (cavernoma, cavernous malformation) diagnosis and make treatment decisions. For more information, please refer to Angioma Alliance's Fast Facts.
