Challenging dogma: report of a spinal cord arteriovenous malformation as an acquired lesion in a pediatric patient

Spinal cord intramedullary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) have classically been considered congenital lesions that are present from birth. The reason for this dogmatic principal is the fact that a vast majority of these lesions present in pediatric and young adult patients. Interestingly, while many authors have demonstrated the development of de novo nidus-type brain AVMs, there have been no reported cases of a de novo intramedullary or perimedullary AVM of the spine. In this paper the authors describe what they believe to be the first reported case of a de novo AVM of the spinal cord in a young patient who underwent serial imaging from birth for evaluation of a syrinx. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms for the development of de novo vascular malformations of the spinal cord are discussed.

Anterior spinal artery aneurysm in aortic stenosis of different etiology: Report of three cases

Isolated aneurysms of spinal arteries are rare. Spinal artery aneurysms are commonly found in association with spinal cord arteriovenous malformation and coarctation of aorta and rarely with aortic arch interruption and Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. Spinal angiograms are the gold standard for diagnosing these spinal artery aneurysms but with the advances in computed tomography technology these aneurysms can also be very well demonstrated in computed tomography angiograms. We describe three cases of anterior spinal artery aneurysm, those are flow related aneurysms, associated with coarctation of aorta and with Takayasu arteritis.

Spinal arteriovenous malformation associated with syringomyelia

The authors describe 4 cases of syringomyelia-associated spinal cord arteriovenous malformation (AVM). All cases were managed with embolization of the AVM. Treatments were aimed to stabilize the AVM itself and not directed toward the syrinx. In 3 of the 4 cases the syringomyelia resolved after treatment. Reports concerning AVM as a cause of syringomyelia is very scarce and lacks posttreatment clinical information. In light of the clinical course and imaging findings, the authors propose a theory that venous hypertension in the spinal cord is the trigger for the development of syringomyelia, which may reverse after AVM treatment.

Conus Medullaris Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation in a Patient with Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome

We describe a 24-year-old woman who presented with twice previously unverified subarachnoid hemorrhages from the conus medullaris spinal arteriovenous malformation with Parkes-Weber-syndrome. Spinal MRI examination is considered to be necessary for the diagnosis of Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome. For diagnosis of the spinal cord arteriovenous malformation, it is indispensable to search carefully for the presence of accompanying lesions. Transarterial glue embolization is effective for the management of the spinal vascular lesion.