Symptomatic capillary telangiectasis of the brainstem without hemorrhage

THE CLASSIFICATION of vascular hamartomas of the brain is well established.1J The classification used in this report includes: [l] capillary telangiectases, [ 21 cavernous angiomas, and [3] venous and arteriovenous angiomas. Capillary telangiectases are usually small and incidental findings which do not cause symptoms during life.2-4 Only occasional cases of capillary telangiectases resulting in neurologic symptoms have been reported. Hemorrhage into the malformation has invariably been present in these patients (see Discussion). The purpose of this communication is to report an unusual and unique case of a capillary telangiectasis which, by its large size and strategic location, resulted in progressive neurologic symptoms over a period of years.