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 it be completely cured?
Answer
The difficulty in treating brain cavernous angiomas depends on the specific condition of the tumor and cannot be generalized. If the tumor has spread, it is difficult to achieve a permanent cure. Complete resection of the tumor can lead to a cure, but due to the location and size of the angioma, it is often difficult to completely remove it, and there is a possibility of missing tumor nodules during surgery, which can become a factor for recurrence. Modern techniques such as X-ray knife and gamma knife can also be used for treatment, usually requiring the combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.