title: Case report of spontaneous hemorrhage in a sublingual arteriovenous malformation causing an emergent airway obstruction.
abstract: The literature is devoid of articles on spontaneous orofacial hemorrhage with hematoma formation without an underlying condition. Rupture of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is possibly the rarest form of spontaneous hemorrhage and life-threatening hematoma formation. This pathology is widely known because of its occurrence in the central nervous system, but it can appear in any location. AVM is not generally thought to be an inherited disorder, except in the context of a specific hereditary syndrome. AVMs can be seen using computerized tomographic angiography, but distraction angiography is the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment decision making. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment; however, endovascular embolization has become an important adjunct to surgical intervention. With shrinkage of the lesion or definitive treatment with coils, particles, or glue. Other important considerations in the choice of treatment are the patient's age, lesion size and location, and prior history of hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee. Electronic address: dopickett@mc.utmck.edu.
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Pickett
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hudson
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000098:blood supply*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed