Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis
Treatment
Treatment is based on the patient's signs and symptoms, and may include:
- Anticonvulsant medicines for seizures
- Eye drops or surgery to treat glaucoma
-
Laser therapy for port-wine stains - Physical therapy for paralysis or weakness
- Possible brain surgery to prevent seizures
Expectations (prognosis)
Most cases of Sturge-Weber are not life-threatening. The patient's quality of life depends on how well the symptoms (such as seizures) can be prevented or treated.
Patients will need to visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year to treat glaucoma. They also will need to see a neurologist to treat seizures and other neurologic symptoms.
Complications
- Abnormal blood vessel growth in the skull
- Continued growth of the port-wine stain
- Developmental delays
- Emotional and behavioral problems
- Glaucoma, which may lead to blindness
- Paralysis
- Seizures
Calling your health care provider
The health care provider should check all birthmarks, including a port-wine stain. Seizures, vision problems, paralysis, and changes in alertness or mental state may mean the coverings of the brain are involved. These symptoms should be evaluated right away.
Previous Section
Review Date: 10/14/2009
Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy and Neurological
Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review
provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David
Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
