Cerebral arteriovenous malformation presenting as persistent fetal circulation. Diagnosis by cross-sectional echo

Two infants with cerebral arteriovenous malformation (CAVM), both initially seen with persistent fetal circulation, were studied with cross-sectional echo. The descending aorta, which is dilated in infants with CAVM, was identified in the subxiphoid four-chamber and short-axis views in both infants. In both infants the arteriovenous malformation was readily identified by cross-sectional echo as a lucency within the brain. Pulsation of the cranial lucency was noted in one infant, but only still frames from the head echo were preserved in the other infant, and pulsation was not commented on in that case.