A cerebral arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain that usually forms before birth.
Alternative NamesAVM - cerebral
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is unknown. The condition occurs when arteries in the brain connect directly to nearby veins without having the normal vessels (capillaries) between them.
Arteriovenous malformations vary in size and location in the brain.
An AVM rupture occurs because of pressure and damage to brain tissue, as well as a lack of blood flow to the brain. Symptoms may also occur when large AVMs that have not bled press on the brain tissue.
Cerebral arteriovenous malformations occur in less than 1% of people. Although the condition is present at birth, symptoms may occur at any age. Hemorrhages occur most often in people ages 15 - 20, but can also occur later in life. Some patients with an AVM also have cerebral aneurysms.
SymptomsSymptoms that may occur with an AVM that has not bled include:
Additional symptoms:
There are often no symptoms until the AVM ruptures. This results in sudden bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). In more than half of patients with AVM, hemorrhage is the first symptom. Symptoms of AVM hemorrhage are the same as those of other intracerebral hemorrhage.
Signs and testsA complete physical examination and neurologic examination are needed, but they may be completely normal.
Tests that may be used to diagnose an AVM include:
A bleeding AVM is a medical emergency. The goal of treatment is to prevent further complications by controlling bleeding and seizures and, if possible, removing the AVM.
Treatments include:
Some treatment options are used together.
Open brain surgery removes the malformation through an opening made in the skull. It must be done by a highly skilled neurosurgeon.
Embolization (endovascular treatment) is the injection of a glue-like substance into the abnormal vessels to stop blood flow in the AVM and reduce the risk of bleeding. This may be the first choice for some kinds of AVMs, or if surgery cannot be done.
Stereotactic radiosurgery is another alternative. This procedure delivers radiation directly to the area of the AVM to cause scarring and shrinkinge. It can control bleeding and other symptoms. It is particularly useful for small deep AVMs, which are difficult to remove by surgery.
Anti-convulsant medications, such as phenytoin, are usually prescribed if seizures occur.
Expectations (prognosis)Approximately 10% of cases in which hemorrhage is the first symptom are deadly. Some patients may have permanent seizures and neurological problems.
ComplicationsPossible complications of open brain surgery include:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have:
Also seek medical attention if you have a first ever seizure, because AVM is occasionally the cause of seizures.
ReferencesZivin JA. Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 237: chap 432.
A cerebral arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain that usually forms before birth.
Alternative NamesAVM - cerebral
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is unknown. The condition occurs when arteries in the brain connect directly to nearby veins without having the normal vessels (capillaries) between them.
Arteriovenous malformations vary in size and location in the brain.
An AVM rupture occurs because of pressure and damage to blood vessel tissue. This allows blood to leak into the brain or surrounding tissues, and reduces blood flow to the brain.
Cerebral AVMs occur in less than 1% of people. Although the condition is present at birth, symptoms may occur at any age. Hemorrhages occur most often in people ages 15 - 20, but can also occur later in life. Some patients with an AVM also have cerebral aneurysms.
SymptomsIn about half of patiens with AVMs, the first symptoms are those of a stroke caused by bleeding into the brain.
Symptoms of an AVM that has not bled include:
A complete physical examination and neurologic examination are needed, but they may be completely normal.
Tests that may be used to diagnose an AVM include:
Finding the best treatment for an AVM that is found on an x-ray or other imaging tests but is not causing any symptoms can be difficult. Your doctor will discuss with you:
The long-term risk of bleeding is about 2 to 3% every year. Your doctor may discuss different factors that may increase the risk, including:
A bleeding AVM is a medical emergency. The goal of treatment is to prevent further complications by controlling bleeding and seizures and, if possible, removing the AVM.
Three surgical treatments are available. Some treatments are used together.
Open brain surgery -- removes the abnormal connection through an opening made in the skull. It must be done by a highly skilled surgeon.
Embolization (endovascular treatment):
Stereotactic radiosurgery is another alternative.
Anticonvulsant medications, such as phenytoin, are usually prescribed if seizures occur.
Expectations (prognosis)About 10% of cases in which excess bleeding (hemorrhage) is the first symptom are deadly. Some patients may have permanent seizures and brain and nervous system (neurological) problems.
AVMs that do not cause symptoms by the time people reach their late 40s or early 50s are more likely to remain stable and rarely cause symptoms.
ComplicationsPossible complications of open brain surgery include:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have:
Also seek medical attention if you have a first-time seizure, because AVM may be the cause of seizures.
ReferencesSelman WR, Blackham K, Tarr RW, Ratcheson RA. Vascular diseases of the nervous system: Vascular malformations. In: Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel Gm, Jankovic J, eds. Bradley: Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier; 2008:chap 55D.
Zivin JA. Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 237:chap 432.
Brown RD Jr. Unruptured brain AVMs: To treat or not to treat. Lancet Neurol. 2008;7:195-196.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 11/04/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Arteriovenous malformation is not one of the causes of schizophrenia. Arteriovenous malformation affects the heart and blood vessels, not the brain.
An arteriovenous malformation is a congenital disorder in which arteries are connected directly to veins rather than through capillaries which distribute oxygen and nutrients.
There are many websites that someone can visit to find information on arteriovenous malformation. Examples of some websites are Wikipedia, and Mayo Clinic.
An AVM is an arteriovenous malformation.
Arteriovenous Malformation
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An AVM is an arteriovenous malformation. The current treatment of choice for an AVM is something called endovascular embolization.
Arteriovenous malformation <--- You have to be able to identify that, and thousands of other terms similar to that. So yes, it's hard.
An AVM is an arteriovenous malformation, so it is a malformation that connects arteries and veins, while a Chiari Malformation (more commonly referred to as an Arnold-Chiari Malformation) is one where part of the brain herniates (pushes through) the base of the skull.
Mine was treated by a Doctor from Johns Hopkins Medical Center, named Dr. Clifford T. Solomon
Angioectasia is a venous lesion that requires cauterization; a Dieulafoy's lesion and arteriovenous malformation may cause arterial bleeding, which requires clipping or laparotomy.
Yes, my mother was just diagnosed with AVM in her stomach, it was embolized and needs to be on a soft diet until healed.