Spinal cord arteriovenous malformation in a toddler presenting with altered mental status and fever.
Central nervous system arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are a rare cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage and neurologic deficits. About 90% of these lesions are supratentorial, with a smaller percentage occurring in the posterior fossa and an even smaller number found throughout the spine. Although spinal AVMs are uncommon, these disorders represent a treatable cause of significant morbidity in a young age group. We report a case of a T11-T12 spinal AVM in a 14-month-old girl presenting with low-grade fever and lethargy who was found to have subarachnoid hemorrhage on evaluation and describe a reasonable stepwise approach to these patients in the emergency department utilizing computed tomography, lumbar puncture, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.
Chow
Yvonne
Y
Department of Emergency Medicine, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
White
Noah
N
Day
Luke
L
Jeanmonod
Rebecca
R
D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications; D007223:Infant; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery