The malformation usually grows slowly over time, enlarging with each small hemorrhage. (See Symptoms of a Cavernous Malformation.) In other cases, a cerebral cavernous malformation may cause substantial bleeding in a single episode, with significant hemorrhage leading to severe neurological deficits or even death.

Can you die from a cavernoma?

Depending on the size and location of the cavernoma, this bleeding can cause brain damage and even in rare cases death, however, bleeding from cavernomas is often less severe than bleeding from aneurysms or AVMs because they do not contain high-pressure arterial blood flow.

Is cavernoma life threatening?

In most cases, bleeding is small – usually around half a teaspoonful of blood – and may not cause other symptoms. But severe haemorrhages can be life threatening and may lead to long-lasting problems. You should seek medical help as soon as possible if you experience any of the above symptoms for the first time.