Complete spontaneous regression of cerebral arteriovenous malformation: a case report and review of the literature

Michael E Kritikos; Nikhil Sharma; Neda Sedora-Roman; Bryan A Pukenas; Robert W Hurst; Omar A Choudhri; David K Kung

doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.07.012

Complete spontaneous regression of cerebral arteriovenous malformation: a case report and review of the literature

Clin Imaging. 2018 Nov-Dec:52:146-151. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.07.012. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

Authors

Michael E Kritikos¹, Nikhil Sharma², Neda Sedora-Roman³, Bryan A Pukenas⁴, Robert W Hurst⁵, Omar A Choudhri⁶, David K Kung⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America; Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America; Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 30059954
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.07.012

Abstract

Spontaneous regression of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is the phenomenon of partial or complete obliteration of the vascular anomaly without any therapeutic intervention. Complete spontaneous regression is a rare event with limited previously reported cases in the literature. We present a new case of complete spontaneous regression of a right frontal AVM and report findings from the imaging studies. Furthermore, we present the findings of a detailed literature review and discuss hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of this rare occurrence.

Keywords: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM); Cerebral; Hemodynamic changes; Obliteration; Spontaneous regression; Thrombosis.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Cerebral Angiography / methods*
Humans
Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / diagnosis*
Male
Middle Aged
Remission, Spontaneous
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*