Management of Arteriovenous Malformations

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)-lesions comprising abnormal communications between arteries and veins with no intervening capillary bed-are among the most challenging vascular anomalies to treat. Surgical resection may be highly morbid or impossible, but if left untreated lesions eventually progress to ulceration, bleeding, and in some cases heart failure. This review of extracranial AVMs covers epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis including gene mutations associated with sporadic and syndromic AVM, clinical features, diagnosis, new and emerging medical treatments, and endovascular and surgical management of AVMs.