Brain edema associated with unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations

Introduction  Brain edema in unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is rare; this study examines (1) its frequency and clinical presentation, (2) imaging findings with emphasis on venous drainage abnormalities, and (3) implications of these findings on natural history and management. Methods  Presentation and imaging features of all unruptured brain AVMs were prospectively collected in our brain AVM database. Neurological findings, size, location, venous drainage pattern, presence of venous thrombosis, ectasia, or stenosis, and brain edema were specifically recorded. Treatment details of all patients with brain edema and their clinical and imaging follow-up were reviewed. Finally, a comparison was made between patients with and without edema. Results  Brain edema was found in 13/329 unruptured brain AVMs (3.9%). Neurological deficit (46.2%), venous thrombosis (38.5%), venous ectasia (84.6%), stenosis (38.5%), and contrast stagnation in the draining veins (84.6%) were more frequent in patients with brain edema than without edema. Eight patients with brain edema received specific treatment (embolization = 5, surgery = 2, radiosurgery = 1). Clinical features correlated well with change in degree of edema in six. Three of five embolized patients were stable or showed improvement after the procedure. On follow-up, however, intracranial hemorrhage developed in three. Conclusion  Brain edema in unruptured brain AVMs is rare, 3.9% in this series. Venous outflow abnormalities are frequently associated and appear to contribute to the development of edema. Progressive nonhemorrhagic symptoms are also associated, with a possible increased risk of hemorrhage. Palliative embolization arrests the nonhemorrhagic symptoms in selected patients, although it may not have an effect on hemorrhagic risk.     

Brain arteriovenous malformations: assessment with dynamic MR digital subtraction angiography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional catheter angiography (CCA) is the current reference standard for the diagnosis, assessment, and management of pial brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The purpose of this study was to develop an MR angiographic technique that produces dynamic images comparable to those provided by CCA and to apply the technique to the investigation of pial brain AVMs. METHODS: Twenty patients with brain AVMs referred for stereotactic radiosurgery were recruited. All patients had CCA performed on a 1.5-T superconducting system. Sixty images were obtained at a rate of one image per second. Slices were orientated to produce Towne, lateral, and anteroposterior projections. A set of mask images was taken and then a series during the passage of a bolus of contrast material. MR examinations were assessed independently by neuroradiologists blinded to the conventional catheter angiographic findings. RESULTS: The nidus of the AVMs was depicted in 19 of the 20 patients, and correlation with CCA was excellent for measurements of maximum diameter. Venous drainage was correctly assessed in 18 of 19 cases. CONCLUSION: MR digital subtraction angiography shows promise as a noninvasive, dynamic angiographic tool for planning stereotactic radiosurgery of AVMs already delineated by catheter angiography. At present, it suffers from temporal and spatial resolution, which impede the assessment of some brain AVMs.     

Occipital dural arteriovenous malformations

Summary The angiographic features of four occipital dural arteriovenous malformations are presented. Special attention is directed to their blood supply from cervical branches of the subclavian artery and to their venous drainage.

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Occipitale durale arteriovenöse Mißbildungen

Zusammenfassung Beschreibung von 4 Patienten mit occipital gelegenen duralen arteriovenösen Mißbildungen. Die Blutversorgung geschah hauptsächlich über cervicale Äste der A. subclavia.

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Malformations artério-veineuses durales occipitales

Résumé Dans cette communication on discute l'aspect angiographique de quatre malformations artérioveineuses durales occipitales en portant une attention spéciale sur le drainage veineux et sur l'afference par branches cervicales de l'artère sous-clavière.

     

Posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations

Summary Classically, posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations (PF-AVMs) have been considered as lesions with high tendency to bleed. However, careful analysis of clinical and autopsy data from the literature demonstrate that in fact the incidence of hemorrhage is similar in infratentorial and supratentorial locations. The clinical perception that most of the diagnosed PF-AVMs had bled does not mean that they have a high risk of hemorrhage. It suggests that bleeding is the dominant way of expression, since other symptoms are uncommon. Furthermore, angioarchitectural analysis is similar in supra-an infratentorial locations. The causes of hemorrhage are probably related to venous anatomic and hemodynamic changes or associated aneurysms as in other intracranial AVMs.     

Cerebellar arteriovenous malformations in children

We review the presentation, imaging findings and outcome in 18 children with cerebellar arteriovenous malformations (AVM). This group is of particular interest because of the reported poor outcome despite modern imaging and neurosurgical techniques. All children had CT and 15 underwent catheter angiography at presentation. Several of the children in the latter part of the study had MRI. Of the 18 children, 17 presented with a ruptured AVM producing intracranial haemorrhage. The remaining child presented with temporal lobe epilepsy and was shown to have temporal, vermian and cerebellar hemisphere AVM. This child had other stigmata of Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. Three other children had pre-existing abnormalities of possible relevance. One had a vascular malformation of the cheek and mandible, one a documented chromosomal abnormality and another a midline cleft upper lip and palate. Six of the 17 children with a ruptured cerebellar AVM died within 7 days of the ictus. Vascular pathology other than an AVM was found in 10 of the 14 children with a ruptured cerebellar AVM who had angiography: 4 intranidal aneurysms, 5 venous aneurysms and 2 cases of venous outflow obstruction (one child having both an aneurysm and obstruction). The severity of clinical presentation was directly related to the size of the acute haematoma, which was a reasonable predictor of outcome. Received: 14 October 1996 Accepted: 10 October 1997     

Stereotactic radiosurgery of arteriovenous malformations

Stereotaxis has been introduced at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy in Boston, MA, to aid in the precise localization and treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). A Brown-Roberts-Wells stereotactic system and a 6 MV linear accelerator have been modified for these treatments. By using multiple isocentric rotational fields, radiation doses from 1500 to 2500 cGy can be safely prescribed to the AVM in efforts to occlude the blood vessels without risking damage to nearby radiosensitive structures. Sixteen patients have been treated from February 1986 to July 1988 using the technique described.     

无水乙醇栓塞治疗耳部动静脉畸形

目的 介绍22例耳部动静脉畸形无水乙醇介入栓塞治疗的经验.方法 对22例耳部动静脉畸形患者,通过局部穿刺或经导管内超选择径路达到耳部病变的异常血管团内,根据病变的血管团构筑,采用无水乙醇或稀释乙醇进行栓塞,间隔1个月进行电话随访,间隔3～4个月进行临床随访,根据临床检查或血管造影评价临床效果.结果 22例患者共进行了38次无水乙醇栓塞,每次无水乙醇的用量为4～65 ml.9例病变局限患者,1～2次栓塞后达到临床治愈;13例病变广泛患者,无水乙醇栓塞3～5次后,溃疡愈合,出血停止,耳呜消失或减弱.血管造影见9例异常血管团完全消失;8例血管团消失50%～75%;5例血管闭消失小于50%.最常见的并发症为可逆性局部坏死和水疱形成.结论 无水乙醇栓塞是耳部动静脉畸形安全、有效的治疗方式,并有可能成为首选的治疗方式.     

Transcatheter embolization of uterine arteriovenous malformations

A case of congenital arteriovenous malformation of the uterus in a 25-year-old woman with a long-standing history of recurrent menometrorrhagia is reported. Radiological diagnosis was based on hysterographic, computed tomographic, and angiographic findings. Treatment was performed with percutaneous transcatheter embolization.     

动静脉畸形的无水乙醇栓塞

无水乙醇栓塞治疗动静脉畸形(AVM)已初步取得了令人满意的临床效果并展现出良好的应用前景,从而为彻底治愈AVM提供了一条崭新的途径.但是,无水乙醇栓塞治疗AVM是一项极具挑战性的工作,不恰当应用会引起一系列并发症并可导致严重后果.本文拟对无水乙醇栓塞治疗AVM的机制、技术要点、栓寒治疗后的病理生理变化以及栓塞的并发症及其防治作一叙述.     

Renal arteriovenous malformations: CT features

The CT and clinical features of six patients with congenital renal arteriovenous malformation (RAVM) were reviewed to determine the characteristics of this condition. The most common symptom was hematuria. The CT images were characterized by masses of vascular density located in the renal sinus and surrounding the pelvicaliceal system with or without dilated renal veins. The exact size of the RAVM and the relation to the pelvicaliceal system were well demonstrated by delayed images or drip infusion technique, whereas the bolus injection technique was essential to document the vascular nature. The potential pitfalls in diagnosis that can occur if only an infusion study is performed are discussed.     

Endovascular treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations

The modern management of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is based on three therapeutic modalities: microneurosurgery, endovascular embolization, and stereotactic radiosurgery. Embolization facilitates subsequent radiosurgery by reducing the volume of the nidus, prepares the resection of surgically accessible AVMs, and immediately addresses the risks related to associated intra/extranidal aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas. We discuss in this article the current state of AVM endovascular therapy.     

Intraosseous arteriovenous malformations mimicking malignant disease

Primary (congenital) intraosseous arteriovenous malformations are rare, accounting for less than one per cent of all primary intraosseous lesions. They are quite variable in their gross and microscopic presentation, yet all can be traced to anomalous development of the primitive vascular system. They may be totally asymptomatic, cosmetically disfiguring, painful, or on rare occasions, cause high-output cardiac failure. Surgical treatment is often unrewarding with recurrence not uncommon. Intra-arterial embolization has shown promising results. We present three cases of primary intraosseous arteriovenous malformations which on initial work-up mimicked malignant disease. Arteriography proved diagnostic in all three cases.