Association of Developmental Venous Anomalies with Demyelinating Lesions in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2018 Jan;39(1):97-101. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5374. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Abstract

We present 5 cases of demyelination in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis that are closely associated with a developmental venous anomaly. Although the presence of a central vein is a known phenomenon with multiple sclerosis plaques, demyelination occurring around developmental venous anomalies is an underreported phenomenon. Tumefactive demyelination can cause a diagnostic dilemma because of its overlapping imaging findings with central nervous system neoplasm. The relationship of a tumefactive plaque with a central vein can be diagnostically useful, and we suggest that if such a lesion is closely associated with a developmental venous anomaly, an inflammatory or demyelinating etiology should be a leading consideration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / pathology*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*