Master Sturge Weber Syndrome with Picmonic for Medicine

Sturge-Weber syndrome is not inherited, but rather occurs sporadically as a result of a somatic activating mutation occurring in the GNAQ gene.

Port-wine stains, also called nevus flammeus, or firemarks, are birthmarks that occur as a result of capillary malformations in the skin. Port-wine stains tend to grow proportional to the growth of a child, rather than fading. They may present as a red color, maturing to a dark red, or purple color with age. These can present anywhere on the body, but are most often seen on the face. Lesions in the trigeminal nerve distribution are sometimes associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome.

In Sturge-Weber syndrome patients are subject to various permutations of arteriovenous malformations (AVM). These include capillary malformations, leading to facial port-wine stains, along with malformations in the retinal vessels, pia mater and choroid in the area of the trigeminal nerve.

Patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome may develop abnormal proliferation of blood vessels in the leptomeninges, which refer to the pia mater and arachnoid mater of the brain and spinal cord. Commonly, patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome have leptomeningeal angiomas on the ipsilateral side as their port-wine stain.

In Sturge-Weber syndrome, neurological concerns relate to the extent of angioma growth on brain tissue. This may result in neurologic consequences, such as developmental delay, or intellectual disability.

In this syndrome, angiomas (occurring as a result of arteriovenous malformations) create abnormal conditions for brain function. As a result, patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome may display seizure activity, and this is the most common early neurologic manifestation, often starting by one year of age. Patients may have initial focal seizures progressing to frequent, secondary generalized seizures, along with increasing seizure frequency and duration, despite the use of antiepileptic drugs. Therapies include surgical intervention, vagal nerve stimulation and anticonvulsant drug therapy.

Pheochromocytomas are adrenal gland tumors that secrete catecholamines. Patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome have a higher predisposition towards developing pheochromocytomas than the normal population.

Those with Sturge-Weber syndrome often have ocular involvement, typically in the form of glaucoma, a disorder of increased fluid pressure in the eye. These most commonly present ipsilaterally to the site of the patient’s port-wine stain, and patients can display vision loss, strabismus, myopia, visual field defect, optic nerve cupping and corneal edema.

On CT scan, patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome display tram-track calcifications, which indicate cortical and subcortical calcifications.