arteriovenous malformation

    
      Re: arteriovenous malformation
    


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Posted by CCF NEURO MD on June 16, 1997 at 14:15:41:

In Reply to: arteriovenous malformation posted by Maria Mari on June 08, 1997 at 08:12:29:

: My brother,Antonio,who is 27 yrs old, wasjust diagnosed with AVM.The exsact lcation is in the ranio-cevical junction.The doctor said that is peted to grow 3% each year.His only symptoms are:headache and camoing on his legs.The doctor said it needs to be surgically remove.And bacause of it's location,they said they don't have the technology to do it in the Philippines as my brother live there.Please let me know more about this.And Where should we go to have this done.
  I'm a rgistered nurse and I reside here in Florida/
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Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM) are abnormal vessels in the brain, which may be tangled and dilated that connect the arteries to the veins. They are believed to be congenital lesions caused by an abnormal development of the blood vessels.  They will proliferate and enlarge over time.  They do not cause symptoms in the first decade of life but may present in the 2nd or 3rd decade, such as your brother.  A person may present with brain hemorrhage, seizures, neurologic deficits such as weakness, or headache.  AVMs may be diagnosed by CT, MRI or angiography.  They may be found in any part of the brain, brainstem or spinal cord.  AVMs may not bleed for a number of years, but most eventually do.  The rate of bleeding is approximately 4%per year.  The majority of patients who develop hemorrhages do survive.  The mortality rate is 1-2% per year (Reference: Principles of Neurology, By Adams, Victor and Ropper.) The standard of treatment is surgical resection, however a number of patients especially those with large unresectable AVMs can undergo an embolization procedure that clots off the abnormal vessels, thus reducing the risk for bleeding.  There is also the use of Gamma Knife surgery that uses radiation to treat the lesions.  
At the Cleveland Clinic we do have a neurosurgeon who specializes in neurovascular surgery,  his name is Dr. Chyatte.  In addition, Dr. Barnett runs the new Gamma Knife Center.  To call for an appointment here call 1-800-233-2273 ext 45670.
I don't believe the Cleveland Clinic Florida has a surgeon who specializes in the treatment of AVMs, however two names of specialist in Florida include Dr. Aldo Gomez (trained at the Cleveland Clinic, now in the West Palm or Miami area) and Dr. JR Little (who was a staff physician here and is now in private practice in Naples).  At the University of Florida, Gainseville Florida (Dr. Arthur Day, or Al Rhoton).  At the University of Miami there is Dr. Roberto Heros.   If you are unable to find this information, try calling the American Heart Association 1-800-AHA-USA-1 or the National Stroke Association 1-800-strokes and they may able to provide you with further references.  Good luck to you and your brother.  
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.  Please consult you physician for diagnostic and treatment options of your specific medical condition.