[Marked growth of arteriovenous malformation 19 years after resection: a case report]

We report a case of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which recurred as a giant AVM 19 years after resection. At the age of 23, the patient underwent craniotomy for a small AVM with surrounding old hematoma in the right parietal lobe. The AVM was judged to have been removed completely on postoperative angiography, while abnormal small vessels were noted retrospectively. He did well until 19 years later when he had seizures. Repeated angiography showed huge recurrent AVM at the operative site. Considering the risk involved in surgery, he was discharged from the hospital with anticonvulsants. Recurrence of AVM after removal is rare, but patients with AVM surgery should be followed up with CT and angiography for a long period of time.