What is a Brain AVM?
A brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels, in which high-flow arteries (which carry blood away from the heart and to brain) flow directly into typically low-flow and thin-walled veins (which carry blood from the brain back to the heart). AVMs are congenital lesions, meaning that they develop prior to birth.
Symptoms
The most common presentation of a brain AVM is a cerebral hemorrhage, or brain bleed. Symptoms of a brain bleed depend on where in the brain this occurs, and can include weakness, numbness, speech difficulty, vision difficulty, reduced or loss of consciousness, coma, or even death, in the most severe cases. In some cases, brain AVMs may cause seizures, which can occur with or without bleeding in the brain. It is also becoming more and more common for AVMs to be diagnosed incidentally, meaning that the AVM is found on a radiographic scan, usually a CT or MRI, obtained for unrelated reasons.
Diagnosis
Most brain AVMs are initially diagnosed on CT or MRI scans. Once a brain AVM is identified, or suspected, a neurosurgeon is consulted, and a diagnostic cerebral angiogram is performed in order to better characterize the size, location and anatomy of the malformation.
Treatment Options
All brain AVMs require consultation with a neurosurgeon, however not all brain AVMs need to be treated. When treatment is necessary, it typically involves some combination of surgery, endovascular embolization (which is performed using minimally invasively techniques, through the blood vessels), and radiation. Whether your AVM requires treatment, and if so, what the treatment options are, is a decision you will make together with your neurosurgeon.
How Can We Help You?
The multi-disciplinary team at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute Neuro Vascular Program offers the full spectrum of care for patients with brain AVMs, from diagnosis to treatment to lifelong follow up and support. Our experienced team of specialists includes fellowship-trained neurosurgeons, vascular neurologists, neuroradiologists, and subspecialized physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and therapists.