Progressive visual field defects in patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformations

Two men, aged 59 and 36 years, had large, intracranial arteriovenous malformations. Both patients developed severe, bilateral visual loss secondary to unrecognized chronic papilledema. Lumbar puncture disclosed increased intracranial pressure. Neuroimaging disclosed only vascular malformations. The patients were treated by embolization of the vascular malformations and ventriculoperitoneal shunting procedures. The malformation of one patient was excised.