CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Spinal cord cavernoma
A cavernoma is an abnormal collection of blood vessels within the brain or spinal cord that is sometimes described as looking like a mulberry
About
A spinal cord cavernoma is an abnormal collection of blood vessels in your spinal cord. Cavernomas can compress the structures in your spinal cord, causing weakness or numbnesss of the limbs or other abnormal findings on examination, such as abnormal reflexes. They may bleed into the spinal cord causing sudden onset of these symptoms.
Need to know
Most are without symptoms, but when problematic they may include:
- progressive functional deterioration in your limbs
- a change of sensation in your limbs including pins and needles or numbness
- bowel and/ or bladder dysfunction
- pain
Your consultant will speak to you about your symptoms and perform a physical examination of your spine. They may refer you for an MRI scan to confirm a diagnosis. If confirmed, our multi-disciplinary team will then decide on the best course of treatment for you.
- Surgery. This involves a general anaesthetic and removal of part of the bone from the back of your spinal vertebra and associated ligaments to access the lining of your spinal cord. Your consultant will then identify the abnormal connection and disconnect it.
- Intra-operative neurophysiology. A technique used during surgery to detect electrical activity in ambiguous tissue that may have function before removing it.
- Radiotherapy or radiosurgery.
Our Spinal cord cavernoma locations
Neurological Rehabilitation Centre
The Wellington Hospital North Building Circus Road, St John's Wood NW8 6DP London
Specialised spinal cord injury programme
Circus Road St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
Patient stories
Hear from past patients about their experience
Alan's story
Despite years of experiencing heart problems that just wouldn’t go away, Alan was apprehensive about having a surgical procedure. But with the expertise of his consultant and the latest cardiac technology, he decided to go ahead.
Andrew's story
“I couldn’t move my legs at all, and my arms only partially. But now I can walk six miles. I wouldn’t have got that without the physio team at The Christie Private Care, I simply wouldn’t have.”
How a second opinion helped uncover a hidden cardiac problem
Former Olympic swimmer, Adrian, was used to prioritising his physical wellbeing and continued to exercise regularly, keeping him in good health into his 60s. But when he got out of the pool one day, he noticed that something wasn’t right.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.