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Spinal arteriovenous malformation.
S Balasubramanian1, So Shivbalan, Sandeep D Jaipurkar
1Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital, Nungambakkam, Chennai, India.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|January 5, 2005
Summary
An 11-year-old girl experienced sudden paraplegia due to a spinal arteriovenous malformation. This rare condition caused hemorrhage within the spinal cord, leading to severe neurological deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare vascular anomalies.
- Intradural extramedullary AVMs with intramedullary hemorrhage present unique diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old female presented with acute paraplegia and incontinence.
- Physical examination revealed spinal tenderness and a thoracic sensory level.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the spine was crucial for diagnosis.
Findings:
- MRI demonstrated an intradural extramedullary arteriovenous malformation.
- Hemorrhage into the intramedullary spinal cord region was identified.
- The findings supported a diagnosis of spinal arteriovenous malformation.
Implications:
- Prompt diagnosis and management of spinal AVMs are critical to prevent permanent neurological damage.
- Understanding the imaging characteristics of spinal AVMs aids in early detection.
- This case highlights the importance of considering vascular lesions in pediatric patients with acute myelopathy.