title: Advanced noninvasive imaging of spinal vascular malformations.
abstract: Spinal vascular malformations (SVMs) are an uncommon, heterogeneous group of vascular anomalies that can render devastating neurological consequences if they are not diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion. Imaging SVMs has always presented a formidable challenge because their clinical and imaging presentations resemble those of neoplasms, demyelination diseases, and infection. Advancements in noninvasive imaging modalities (MR and CT angiography) have increased during the last decade and have improved the ability to accurately diagnose spinal vascular anomalies. In addition, intraoperative imaging techniques have been developed that aid in the intraoperative assessment before, during, and after resection of these lesions with minimal and/or optimal use of spinal digital subtraction angiography. In this report, the authors review recent advancements in the imaging of SVMs that will likely lead to more timely diagnoses and treatment while reducing procedural risk exposure to the patients who harbor these uncommon spinal lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. Eddleman@md.northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Eddleman
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Ty A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cashen
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Bernard R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bendok
authors.forename: H Hunt
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Batjer
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*