What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms of CPA include:

• Seizures

• Migraines

• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) - focal neurologic deficits, such as weakness, numbness, or tingling to one part or side of the body (symptoms of Stroke).

Diagnosing a CPA

There are various tests carried out to diagnose CPA. However, it usually involves a combination of the following:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to show detailed images of the tissues. An MRI can pick up on small changes in these tissues.

• Computerised tomography (CT). CT scans use X-rays to create images of the head, brain or spinal cord and can help show bleeding.

• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). An MRA captures the pattern and the speed and distance of blood flow through the vascular abnormalities.

• Cerebral angiography. Also called arteriography, this test uses a special dye called a contrast agent injected into an artery. The dye highlights the structure of blood vessels to better show them on X-rays.

Treating a CPA

Currently, there is no cure for CPA. Patients are conservatively managed and their symptoms are controlled using various pain and anti-seizure medications. This has varying success rates from patient to patient and is very much trial and error.