title: Surgical management of cirsoid aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cirsoid aneurysms (arteriovenous fistulas) of the scalp are rare lesions. They are infrequently encountered in neurosurgical practice. These lesions are difficult to manage because of their complex vascular anatomy, high shunt flow and cosmetic disfigurement. We report our experience in the surgical management of these lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 11 patients with cirsoid aneurysms surgically. All except one patient were males who were in the second and third decades of life. History of trauma was present in 6 patients. In one patient, the lesion had been present since birth. Occipital and frontal regions were the sites commonly involved. Superficial temporal, occipital and posterior auricular arteries were the most frequent feeding arteries. The size ranged from 3 cms to 12 cms. Following investigations were done: CT, MRI, MRA, angiography and Doppler studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excision of the lesion was done in 8 patients and en bloc resection of the lesion with the scalp with reconstruction was done in the remaining three. One among the three patients who underwent en bloc resection had undergone prior surgery. None of the patients underwent preoperative endovascular treatment. One patient had undergone intralesional injection of sclerosing agents twice. Superficial scalp necrosis occurred in two patients but was treated successfully. All the patients except one had good cosmetic results and there was no recurrence during an average follow up of 18 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical excision with good cosmetic results is feasible in patients with cirsoid aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Madurai Medical College, Madurai, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muthukumar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rajagopal
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Manoharan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Durairaj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012535:Scalp / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*