Additional studies suggest that women and patients under the age of 40 are at higher risk of bleeding, but similar conducted studies did not reach the same conclusion. However, when cavernous hemangiomas are completely excised, there is very little risk of growth or rebleeding. In terms of life expectancy, not enough data has been collected on patients with this malformation in order to provide a representative statistical analysis. Epidemiology
The true incidence of cavernous hemangiomas is difficult to estimate because they are frequently misdiagnosed as other venous malformations. Cavernous hemangiomas of the brain and spinal cord (cerebral cavernous hemangiomas (malformations) (CCM)), can appear at all ages but usually occur in the third to fourth decade of a persons life with no sexual preference. In fact, CCM is present in 0.5% of the population. However, approximately 40% of those with malformations have symptoms. Asymptomatic individuals are usually individuals that developed the malformation sporadically, while symptomatic individuals usually have inherited the genetic mutation. The majority of diagnoses of CCM are in adults; however, 25% of cases of CCM are children. Approximately 5% of adults have liver hemangiomas in the United States, but most are asymptomatic. Liver hemangiomas usually occur between the ages of 30–50 and more commonly in women. Cases of infantile liver cavernomas are extremely rare. Cavernous hemangioma of the eye is more prevalent in women than men and between the ages of 20–40. Research
In the treatment of a brain cavernous hemangioma, neurosurgery is usually the treatment chosen.
When the condition occurs in the liver it usually does not cause symptoms, but some may experience pain in the upper right abdomen, a feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount of food, decreased appetite, nausea, or vomiting. Presentation
Cavernous hemangiomas can arise nearly anywhere in the body where there are blood vessels. They are sometimes described as resembling raspberries because of the appearance of bubble-like caverns. Unlike capillary hemangiomas, cavernous ones can be life-threatening and do not regress. Causes
Most cases of cavernomas are thought to be congenital; however they can develop over the course of a lifetime. While there is no definitive cause, research suggests that genetic mutations result in the condition. Congenital hemangiomas that appear on the skin are known as either vascular or red birthmarks. Familial cerebral cavernous malformations are known to occur. The mutations may be inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion or occur sporadically. Overall, familial disease is thought to be responsible for one-third to one-half of cases. In the US, approximately 50% of Hispanic patients with cerebral  cavernous malformations have a familial form. In contrast, the familiar form of the condition accounts for only 10 to 20% of cases in Caucasians. The reason for this difference is not presently known. Several genes – K-Rev interaction trapped 1 (ССМ1), Malcavernin (CCM2) and Programmed cell death protein 10 (ССМ3) – have been identified as having mutations thought to be related to these lesions.