Spontaneous regression of a spinal extradural arteriovenous fistula after delivery by cesarean section.
A 23-year-old Japanese woman presented with a newly developed spinal extradural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) during pregnancy. She had been followed up for a suspected spinal cavernous angioma and became unable to walk during the 29th week of her pregnancy. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a spinal extradural AVF at the T3 to T4 levels compressing the spinal cord. After delivery by cesarean section, her neurological symptoms gradually began to resolve, and she was able to resume walking without assistance. MR imaging confirmed spontaneous regression of the AVF. This case suggests that exacerbated neurological symptoms and AVF growth triggered by pregnancy can improve after delivery without interventional treatment. Careful follow up of neurological findings is required to prevent unnecessary interventional procedures in pregnant women with spinal AVF.
Kinoshita
Manabu
M
Department of Neurosurgery, Kansai Medical University Hirakata Hospital, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. mkinoshita@me.com
Asai
Akio
A
Komeda
Shoko
S
Yoshimura
Kunikazu
K
Takeda
Junichi
J
Uesaka
Tatsuo
T
Yamanouchi
Yasuo
Y
Kanzaki
Hideharu
H
Kawamoto
Keiji
K
D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D055815:Young Adult