Question
A neonate has been detected with a cavernous angioma in the left pontine area and left cerebellar area, originating from the right internal carotid artery. Is surgery appropriate? Are there other better treatment options? Can a complete cure be achieved?
Answer
The difficulty of treating brain cavernous angiomas depends on the specific condition of the tumor and cannot be generalized. If the tumor has spread, the treatment becomes more challenging. Complete resection of the tumor can achieve disease control, but due to the location and size of the angioma, it is often difficult to be completely removed. The presence of tumor nodules left behind during surgery is also one of the factors contributing to tumor recurrence. Modern techniques such as X-ray knife and gamma knife can also be used for treatment, usually in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.