Spinal extradural arteriovenous malformation presenting with recurrent hemorrhage and intermittent paraplegia: case report and review of the literature

Surg Neurol. 1994 Jul;42(1):26-31. doi: 10.1016/0090-3019(94)90246-1.

Abstract

Symptomatic spinal extradural arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are uncommon. They usually present with slowly progressive myelopathy and/or radiculopathy and only rarely with spinal extradural hemorrhage (SEH). Histopathologic features of a true spinal extradural AVM causing an overt SEH have only previously been described in four cases. A further case of a histologically confirmed spinal extradural AVM causing SEH in a 50-year-old otherwise medically normal Caucasian woman is presented. Recurrent hemorrhage resulted in intermittent paraplegia and acute chest/shoulder pain--diagnosed initially as hysteria. Interesting sequential myelographic, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance imaging studies are presented, and the literature on spinal extradural AVMs presenting with SEH is reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arteriovenous Malformations / complications*
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / diagnostic imaging
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / surgery
  • Epidural Space* / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Humans
  • Laminectomy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelography
  • Paraplegia / etiology*
  • Paraplegia / surgery
  • Spinal Cord / blood supply*
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord / surgery
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology*
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome