Complete neurological recovery after surgery for mesencephalic cavernoma: case report.

Cavernous malformations are classified as a group of vascular malformations of the central nervous system. Conservative treatment of brainstem cavernomas is accompanied with poor outcome. Surgery ofbrainstem cavernomas still poses a challenge due to the high risk of neurological damage and respectable morbidity. We report a case of complete neurological recovery in a 24-year-old female patient with mesencephalic cavernoma treated surgically. This case highlights that careful microsurgical treatment with the goal of complete cavernoma excision remains the treatment of choice in cases with de novo or recurrent hemorrhage. Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring should be used as the gold standard during brainstem cavernoma operations in order to avoid nuclear and long tract damages.