Cavernous Angioma of the Brain Stem Simulating

Brainstem vascular malformations can sometimes simulate other conditions such as multiple sclerosis and pontine glioma. We report a case of brainstem cavernous angioma for which clinical course and radiologic appearance were suggestive of a pontine glioma. The diagnosis was uncertain until the clinical and radio-logic evolution made it clear that the patient had a cavernous angioma. We suggest that brainstem angioma be considered as a differential diagnosis for pontine glioma. (J Child Neurol 2001;16:614-615). Vascular malformations of the brain stem, although infrequent, are important entities to recognize in children since their variable clinical course can simulate other conditions with diverse treatment and prognosis. 1-:3 A subacute presentation can result from hemor-rhage within the malformation with compression of the surroundin