Boston Children’s Hospital Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventions Center was named the first pediatric Clinical Center of Excellence by the Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation, a patient/family advocacy organization. The designation is awarded to clinical centers that provide quality multidisciplinary care for cavernous malformations, also known as cavernous malformation or cavernoma.
“We have worked hard over the years to build our program, and are proud to be honored with this designation,” says Edward Smith, MD, co-director of the Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventions Center.
Cavernous malformations can occur anywhere in the body but usually cause serious problems only in the brain and spinal cord. While many children don’t have symptoms, the masses can bleed and cause neurologic problems, such as seizures, and can sometimes be life-threatening. If the cavernous malformation bleeds, surgery may be recommended if the malformation can be safely accessed.
Boston Children’s Center provides the entire spectrum of treatment options for cavernous malformations, with the goal of providing the best care plan for each child, minimizing invasive procedures and radiation exposure wherever possible. The entire Center and its practice are focused exclusively on children and young adults with cavernous malformations and other cerebrovascular diseases.
{INSERT PIC HERE] Patients receive care from a collaborative, highly experienced team, including a pediatric neurosurgeon, a dedicated neuro-interventional radiologist, and clinicians with expertise in child neurology, neurocritical care, neuro-anesthesia, diagnostic neuroradiology, stroke, vascular anomalies and blood disorders. The goal is to provide a seamless, team-based, patient-focused approach.
In a Boston Children’s study of 181 children who underwent surgery for cavernous malformations, 96 percent remained seizure-free after a mean of 4.6 years of follow-up. (J Neurosurg Pediatr 2013)
The Center also offers a one-year Pediatric Cerebrovascular Disease Fellowship for physicians, providing multidisciplinary training in the treatment of cerebrovascular conditions affecting children.
For more information about Boston Children’s Hospital and its Cavernous Malformation Program:
Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventions Center
Cavernous malformations: What parents need to know
Selected research papers on cavernous malformations:
Manjila S, Karhade A, Phi JH, Scott RM, Smith ER. Real-Time Ultrasound-Guided Catheter Navigation for Approaching Deep-Seated Brain Lesions: Role of Intraoperative Neurosonography with and without Fusion with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2017; 52(2):80-86.
Gross BA, Du R, Orbach DB, Scott RM, Smith ER. The natural history of cerebral cavernous malformations in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2015:1-6. PMID: 26474098.
Gross BA; et al. Cavernous malformations of the basal ganglia in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2013; 12:171-4.
Gross BA; et al. Resection of supratentorial lobar cavernous malformations in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2013; 12:367-73.
Singla A; et al. Cavernous malformations of the brain after treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia: presentation and long-term follow-up. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2013; 11:127-3.
About Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston Children’s Hospital, the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is home to the world’s largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center. Its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, more than 2,630 scientists, including nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, 14 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 11 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children’s research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children’s is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Vector and Thriving blogs and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook, and YouTube.
