Hemodynamic evaluation of spinal arteriovenous malformations before and after embolization--preliminary report

This preliminary study investigated local hemodynamic changes in intramedullary spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) before and after embolization. 99mTcO4- was injected into the anterior spinal artery feeding the AVM via a Tracker-10 or MAGIC microcatheter. Time-dependent radioisotope images were sequentially obtained in the anteroposterior plane every 0.2 sec before and just after embolization. Local mean transit time (MTT) was then calculated for both the nidus and draining vein and compared before and after embolization. Prior to embolization, MTTs in the nidus and in the draining vein were 1.84 +/- 0.62 (mean +/- SD) and 2.80 +/- 0.69 sec for the five patients, respectively. MTTs in both the nidus and the draining vein were significantly prolonged after embolization to 3.32 +/- 1.14 and 4.90 +/- 0.93 sec, respectively (p < 0.02 and p < 0.005, respectively). In vivo measurements of local hemodynamic changes in the spinal cord during the treatment of spinal AVMs could be achieved. This method may allow investigation of the hemodynamic mechanisms which induce ischemic symptoms in patients with spinal AVM.