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Arteriovenous malformations

Spinal arteriovenous malformations

 

Spinal AVMs are very rare. They usually present to medical attention in adult life. They are a potentially treatable cause of myelopathy (any disease or disorder of the spinal cord). Myelopathies may cause any or all of the following symptoms:

  • weakness of the legs;
  • disturbance of sensation over the legs, buttocks and genital areas;
  • impairment of bladder and/or bowel function.

Spinal AVMs usually involve the lower part of the spinal cord, called the thoracic cord which stretches from the neck to the small of the back.

Improvements in spinal cord imaging with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have lead to quicker diagnosis. However, spinal AVMs are notoriously difficult to detect, and may require spinal catheter angiography (visualisation of the blood vessels after injection of a radiopaque substance) to be certain about the diagnosis.

Treatment of spinal AVMs is often difficult, and usually its objective is to limit further damage to the spinal cord, rather than alleviate the problems already caused. The two main forms of treatment are surgical excision and embolisation via a catheter in the groin. Embolisation is becoming the mainstay of treatment as technological advances in catheters and embolic glues are made.

View Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations  |  Is there support? View Is there support?

Medical text written August 2005 by Contact a Family. Arteriovenous malformation of the brain and Spinal arteriovenous malformation information approved August 2005 by Dr R Al-Shahi, MRC Clinician Scientist and Specialist Registrar In Neurology, University of Edinburgh/ Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation information approved August 2005 by Dr A Jaffe, Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Research, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Institute of Child Health, London, UK.

 

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