Cavernous Malformations
You are here
Symptoms of a Cavernous Malformation
Many people with a cerebral cavernous malformation will never experience any symptoms. In others, a cav-mal may cause:
- Headache
- Weakness
- Numbness
- Difficulty speaking
- Unsteadiness or loss of balance
- Hearing or vision changes
- Seizures
- Paralysis
- Cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain)
Since these symptoms can be signs of many different conditions, a doctor will generally order an MRI scan of the brain to diagnose the problem. (See Diagnosing and Treating a Cavernous Malformation.)
In some people, symptoms seem to come and go, lessening for a while and then coming back again. This may mean that the cav-mal has caused a small hemorrhage, which worsens the symptoms; as the leaked blood is reabsorbed into the brain the patient feels better, only to experience symptoms again with the next small incident of blood leakage.
Request an Appointment | Refer a Patient
Reviewed by Philip E. Stieg, PhD, MD
Last reviewed/last updated: October 2020