Cavernous angioma of the cavernous sinus: imaging findings

Abstract

Cavernous angiomas (cavernomas) of the cavernous sinus are uncommon, with only scattered reports in literature. Unlike their parenchymatous counterparts, they are intensely enhancing para-sellar masses, iso/hypointense in T1- and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. Differential diagnosis with para-sellar meningiomas and schwannomas can be difficult. We report three cases of this condition, describing findings of diffusion-weighted imaging in this kind of lesion for the first time in literature.