Venous Angioma-MRI

On contrast-enhanced MRI, the cluster of veins in developmental venous anomalies has a spoke-wheel appearance; the veins are small at the periphery and gradually enlarge as they approach a central draining vein. This appearance has been referred to as caput medusa, or the head of Medusa, because of the serpentine appearance of the curvilinear peripheral draining veins.  These are axial and coronal post contrast images of 13 year old girl with hsitory of absence seizures. Reported by- Teleradiology Providers

Large Intracerebral Cavernoma

This is a 22 year old male, with T1/T2 hyperintense mass with signal suppression on T2 *GRE consiting of blood products in varying stages.  There was calcification on plain CT head. Pathological diagnosis was cavernoma. Cavernous malformations are benign vascular lesions of the central nervous system that lack intervening normal brain parenchyma. Giant cases are rare.

Reported by Teleradiology Providers

Cerebral vascular malformations-MRI

Here are two cases seen in a day one showing cavernous angioma in the midbrain showing characteristic variegated "popcorn" appearance. The lesion shows signal supression on GRE because of blood products. Other case is a venous angioma with enhancing vascular channel, characteristic appearance is called as "medusa head appearance" in the left parietal region.

Dr.Sumer K Sethi, MD
Sr Consultant Radiologist ,VIMHANS and CEO-Teleradiology Providers
Editor-in-chief, The Internet Journal of Radiology
Director, DAMS (Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences)