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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Comprehensive Endovascular and Open Surgical Management of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
Published on: October 20, 2017
[Paraspinal arteriovenous malformations with perimedullary venous drainage]
C Schmidt1, J Lonjon, V Costalat
1Service de neuroradiologie, CHU Gui-de-Chauliac-2, avenue Emile-Bertin-Sans, 34000 Montpellier, France. Caroschmidt@yahoo.fr
Abstract:
Symptoms of chronic myelopathy in cases of paraspinal arteriovenous malformations are most often related to perimedullary venous drainage. Here, we report on three cases of such malformations that have unique epidural venous drainage. These thoracolumbar lesions manifested as isolated back pain (in two cases) and S1 lumboradicular pain (in one case). MRI presented evidence to suggest a diagnosis of these rare conditions, based on signs of vertebral erosion, signal loss (flow void) on T1- and T2-weighted imaging, and partial enhancement after gadolinium injection, with no signs of congestive myelopathy. Spinal angiography confirmed the presence of a paraspinal fistula and, at the same time, allowed treatment by intra-arterial onyx injection.
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