Vascular malformations

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Vascular malformations are localized collections of abnormal blood vessels that lead to altered blood flow in brain. Vascular malformations can become unstable and rupture, releasing blood into the brain and causing a stroke. When a vascular malformation ruptures, the result is called a hemorrhage. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhage, brain damage or death may result.Vascular malformations are typically classified by size, location, and type of blood vessels involved, with the four most common being:

• Cavernomas (cavernous angioma)

• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)

• Capillary telangiectasias (CTSs)

• Venous malformations (developmental venous angiomas – DVAs

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Sign and Symptoms

The most common sign and symptoms  areheadaches,  seizures, cranial  nerve deficits, backaches. In some  cases, the blood vessels rupture and there is bleeding within the brain (intracranial hemorrhage). In more than half of patients with AVM, hemorrhage is the first symptom. Symptoms due to bleeding include loss of consciousness, sudden and severe headache, nausea, vomiting, incontinence. 

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Diagnosis-

By clinical examination and imaging

CT Angiography Brain-

CTA is a very good method for evaluating blood vessels and can be especially useful in evaluating AVMs for the presence of aneurysms, which can be associated with AVMs.

MR Angiography-

MRA uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of blood vessels inside the body.

Cerebral Angiogram-

This is the “gold standard” test for the clearest images of the blood vessels

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Treatment

Treatment depends upon the pathology and includes microsurgery, endovascular embolisation and observation with conservative treatment in some cases.

 

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