Transient Dysphagia as a Presenting Symptom of Familial Cerebral Cavernous Malformation

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular lesions characterized by a collection of thin-walled capillaries with slow blood flow, which are often identified incidentally on MRI. CCMs are the most common cerebral vascular malformation after developmental venous anomalies. Familial CCM (FCCM) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by several lesions throughout the central nervous system. We report the case of a 47-year-old female patient who presented to the neurology clinic with a chief complaint of transient dysphagia. An MRI of the brain without contrast, including susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), demonstrated numerous punctate foci of susceptibility-related signal loss throughout the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Genetic testing revealed a pathogenic KRIT1 mutation, confirming FCCM. The patient’s dysphagia resolved within one month of the initial onset and, fortunately, has not returned. This case highlights an atypical presentation of FCCM and the importance of an extensive workup in patients with unexplained neurologic symptoms.