Venous malformation (Cavernous Hemangioma) of the supraorbital nerve

Abstract

Cavernous hemangiomas are not true vascular tumors, but rather are slow-flow venous malformations (VMs). They are present at birth as nonproliferating vascular birthmarks composed of anomalous ectatic venous channels. VMs have often been incorrectly called cavernous hemangiomas and cavernous angiomas. These terms have for a long time lead to confusion with the more common proliferating or true hemangioma of infancy. VM has been reported to arise at all sites including skin and subcutaneous layers of the head and neck, face, extremities, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and even the thymus. Although VMs are common intraocular tumors and are involved within intracranial, extraaxial cranial nerves within the cavernous sinus has been sporadically reported, and less often in the supraorbital nerve, an extraocular and extracranial division of the trigeminal nerve has not been reported. The authors present an extremely rare occurrence of VM involving the supraorbital nerve in an 80-year-old female.