Spinal arteriovenous malformations: neurological aspects and results of embolization.
Twenty consecutive patients with spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were found to have either a progressive, remitting or remitting-progressive course of disease. A characteristic progressive neurological decline was observed in 11 patients with dural fistulas and a similar decline was seen in 5 of the 9 patients with intradural AVMs. In addition to paraparesis and mixed sensory disorder, which ascended to a level of about T10, areas with spared sensation were occasionally found below this level. All cases with this progressive longitudinal myelopathy showed radiological evidence of a dilated medullary venous plexus. All patients were treated by embolization with only a low frequency of complications. Follow-up data verified a significant improvement of motor and sensory function, mainly during the first year after embolization. Cases with progressive neurological decline (dural and intradural AVMs) stopped deteriorating or improved and cases with a history of acute incidents (intradural AVMs) probably run less risk of acute deterioration.
Lundqvist
C
C
Department of Neurology, Sahlgren Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Berthelsen
B
B
Sullivan
M
M
Svendsen
P
P
Andersen
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy