Duke University Hospital has been selected as a center of excellence for the treatment of brain abnormalities called cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) in adults and children.
Designation by the Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation recognizes that the hospital provides expert, integrated, multidisciplinary care and cutting-edge research to CCM patients and their families. It is the only center of excellence for MCC in North Carolina.
A cavernous malformation is a collection of abnormal blood vessels often found in the brain and spinal cord. They are a common cause of stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, and epileptic seizures in otherwise healthy patients. MCCs can develop at any age, including in children, although they are more likely to become symptomatic in young adults.
Duke University Hospital is privileged and honored to be certified as one of the very few Centers of Excellence in the nation. It was here that the genes responsible for cerebral cavernous malformations were discovered. »
Dr. David Hasan, cerebrovascular neurosurgeon at Duke.
“We use state-of-the-art tools to diagnose disease and provide effective care,” Dr. Hasan said. “Our clinical excellence and the expertise of our neurosurgeons have also resulted in excellent patient outcomes, even when tackling very complex cases. »
The Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation is a non-profit organization working to support the search for better treatments and a cure for brain disease. The criteria for Center of Excellence designation are as follows:
- Designation of a multidisciplinary board of clinical specialists, including cerebrovascular neurosurgeons, vascular, epileptic and pediatric neurologists, neuroradiologists and geneticists, all of whom collaborate in the diagnosis and management of patients with cavernous malformations.
- Have at least two other doctors specializing in cavernous malformations in one of the following disciplines: pediatric neurology, pediatric neurosurgery, dermatology or neuro-ophthalmology.
- Maintain an active clinical research program with a publication history that may include natural history studies, comparative treatment outcome research, genetics/genomics research, and/or clinical drug trials.
- Host at least one annual patient education event, either independently or in conjunction with Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation.