Hypersexuality from resection of left occipital arteriovenous malformation

Neurosurg Rev. 2010 Jan;33(1):107-14. doi: 10.1007/s10143-009-0232-2. Epub 2009 Oct 15.

Abstract

The authors report their experience on one patient with hypersexuality from resection of left occipital arteriovenous malformation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature. A 35-year-old right-handed female farmer suffered a sudden left occipital hemorrhage with subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhages of the left hemisphere. Transient left uncal herniation occurred at the onset and was released by conservative treatment. Digital subtraction angiography showed a brain left occipital arteriovenous malformation. After microsurgical resection of the arteriovenous malformation, the patient developed hypersexual behavior. Positron emission tomography showed hypermetabolism in the left frontal region and left posterior hippocampal gyrus and hypometabolism in the left anterior hippocampal gyrus and the left occipital surgical area. Theories concerning normal pressure perfusion breakthrough and specific areas in the brain responsible for the human sexual response are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / complications
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / surgery*
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Microsurgery
  • Neurosurgical Procedures*
  • Occipital Lobe / surgery*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Postoperative Complications / psychology*
  • Risperidone / therapeutic use
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Serotonin Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Sertraline / therapeutic use
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / drug therapy
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / etiology
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / psychology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Risperidone
  • Sertraline