Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are the forming of “tangles” of vessels between arteries and veins of the brain with certain connections that aren’t normally supposed to occur. This is a disorder comes with birth and the cause is unknown.
Arteriovenous malformations may stay silent for years without any sign or symptoms. However, sometimes brain hemorrhage due to sudden rupture of arteriovenous malformations can be seen or it can cause epileptic seizures if the “vessel tangle” is large. As a result of this, signs and symptoms of strokes are seen and can result in life-threatening conditions.
Brain hemorrhage is the first symptom in more than half of the patients with arteriovenous malformations. Depending on the location and severity of the bleeding, it may cause severe sequel or even death. The risk of bleeding in a patient with arteriovenous malformation is approximately 3% per year.
The most common signs and symptoms are as follows: Headache (sudden-onset, at one place or general, sometimes mimicking migraine headaches), vomiting along with headache, visual disturbances (decreased vision, double vision, blurry vision), seizures, muscle weakness in any part of the body, altered consciousness (tendency to sleep, confusion, confusing place-person-time, aggression) and stiff neck. Also speech disturbances, auditory disturbances, fainting, motion disturbances, facial paralysis, sudden eyelid drop and dizziness can be seen.
How are arteriovenous malformations diagnosed?
After a complete physical and neurological examination, brain CT, brain angiography or brain MRI makes a definitive diagnosis of arteriovenous malformation.
What are the treatment options in arteriovenous malformations?
A bleeding arteriovenous malformation is a medical emergency and requires immediate hospital admission. The aim of the treatment is stopping the bleeding, preventing seizures and eliminating AVM if possible.
Open brain surgery is the most radical treatment option. Endovascular embolization or radiosurgical interventions are other treatment options. In some cases, a combination of these approaches can be used.