Arteriovenous Malformations

AVM's are masses of abnormal blood vessels that can grow in any area of the brain or other parts of the body. AVM's are very rare and occur in only one percent of the population. Even though the cause is not known, it is suspected they are present at birth due to abnormal development of blood vessels in utero. They are not cancerous and do not spread to other parts of the body. They are usually discovered between the ages of twenty to forty. These masses eventually hemorrhage. When this happens, it can damage the surrounding tissues in the brain , resulting in a stroke. Permanent brain damage, disabilities and even death are effects of a bleed. Symptoms of an AVM are headaches, seizures or stroke like symptoms. However, an AVM can be present in the body and show no signs or symptoms.

Treatment options include surgery depending on location of the AVM. Radiation treatments have an eighty percent success rate in shrinking the AVM for a period of two to three years. Complications are low with this type of treatment. Embolization is another type of treatment that consists of a small catheter placed into the brain vessels to the AVM. A liquid type glue is injected into the vessels blocking the AVM off. This type of treatment is usually combined with radiation or surgery.

Here is a few radiography pictures of an AVM.