Back to Case Listing

Case 21

History:

66 year old female with chronic headaches

Findings:

Axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI obtained through the pons demonstrates an area of mild enhancement without mass effect or edema in a patient with a capillary telangiectasia

Diagnosis:

Capillary telangiectasia

Discussion:

Consists of small areas of abnormally dilated capillaries within otherwise normal brain tissue. Most commonly occur in the pons and usually solitary. Most patients are asymptomatic. Headache, dizziness, weakness and seizures have been reported but are rare. Are typically occult on CT scanning.  Gradient-echo sequences can be helpful.

References:

  • Barr RM, Dillon WP, Wilson CB.Slow-flow vascular malformations of the pons: capillary telangiectasias.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol.Jan1996;17(1):71-8.
  • Lee RR, Becher MW, Benson ML, Rigamonti D.Brain capillary telangiectasia: MR imaging appearance and clinicohistopathologic findings. Radiology. Dec1997; 205(3):797-805.
  • Auffray-Calvier E, Desal HA, Freund P, et al.[Capillary telangiectasis, angiographically occult vascular malformations. MRI symptomatology apropos of 7 cases]. J Neuroradiol. Dec1999;26(4):257-61.