Spinal arteriovenous metameric syndrome in a neonate presenting with congestive heart failure: case report

Spinal arteriovenous metameric syndrome (SAMS) is a combination of more than two separate vascular malformations in the same embryonic metameres. This syndrome, also known as Cobb syndrome, is rare, especially in the neonate.

A neonatal girl with a birthmark in the occipital and posterior nuchal regions presented with severe heart failure on the day of birth. The large arteriovenous fistulas in the left hypoglossal canal and in the posterior nuchal region were embolized with detachable coils on the postnatal days 5 and 18, which improved heart failure markedly. The associated intramuscular arteriovenous malformation in the posterior neck was left untreated because large arteriovenous fistulas had been occluded. She grew up without any neurological deficits and developed with normal milestones until the latest follow-up of 8 years old.

To our knowledge, this is the first case with SAMS in a neonate presenting with congestive heart failure. Presence of a birthmark in a neonate presenting with congestive heart failure may suggest the possible underlying high-flow vascular malformations in the same metamere.