Brain Arteriovenous Malformation Recurrence-Recanalization or Rebirth?

World Neurosurg. 2016 Oct:94:581.e1-581.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.08.016. Epub 2016 Aug 13.

Abstract

Background: Bleeding secondary to recurrences of spontaneously obliterated arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is an extremely rare occurrence.

Case description: We report a 25-year-old man with cerebellar hemorrhage secondary to a recurrent AVM. His current admission with bleeding from a ruptured cerebellar AVM followed a previous presentation 15 years earlier with the similar clinical picture of AVM rupture within the same vascular territory. At that time, he was managed conservatively with follow-up digital subtraction angiography (DSA) 2 years later, confirming no residuum of the AVM. At the current presentation, he had DSA confirming AVM recurrence. He was managed by complete excision of the AVM via a suboccipital craniotomy.

Conclusion: This case illustrates the need for long-term imaging follow-up to exclude recanalization even many years after AVM obliteration.

Keywords: Cerebral arteriovenous malformation; Rebleeding; Recanalization.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured / surgery*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / diagnostic imaging*
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / surgery*
  • Male
  • Recurrence
  • Treatment Outcome