title: Spontaneous occlusion of a spinal arteriovenous malformation: is treatment always necessary?
abstract: Knowledge of spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has recently been improved by studies on pathophysiology, neuroimaging, and genetic data. Nevertheless, the natural history of these lesions remains poorly understood. The authors present the case of an angiographic regression of a nidal-type spinal AVM at T-12 to L-1 in a 46-year-old woman with no risk factors. The natural course of untreated lesions is reviewed and discussed. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that reports an angiographically proven complete spontaneous occlusion of a spinal AVM.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy. pancy_pier@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Panciani
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fontanella
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crobeddu
authors.forename: Bawarjan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schatlo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergui
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ducati
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007866:Leg; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*