Effectiveness of super-selective digital subtraction angiography and 3D rotational digital subtraction venography for a developmental venous anomaly with an arteriovenous malformation: A case report and literature review.

Abstract

Background: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and developmental venous anomaly (DVA) rarely coexist. Developing a surgical strategy to treat this co-occurrence is difficult due to the unclear pathogenesis. We report the use of super-selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and Three-dimensional (3D) rotational digital subtraction venography (DSV) to develop a surgical strategy for complex AVM draining into a DVA.

Case description: A 58-year-old woman presented with left hemiparesis and unconsciousness. Plain and contrast computed tomography showed a right frontal subcortical hematoma and a heterogeneous contrast lesion anterior to the hematoma, leading to a dilated vessel. The hematoma was removed due to worsening unconsciousness. DSA revealed a right frontal AVM of Spetzler-Martin grade 2 with superficial drainage into a DVA, and 3D-DSV revealed that the intermediate part of the DVA involved normal parenchyma. Interventional transarterial embolization and surgical nidus removal were planned. Preoperative super-selective DSA showed two medullary veins draining from the AVM into the DVA. Thus, we decided to separate the two medullary veins from the nidus. Postoperative angiography revealed complete removal of the AVM and preservation of the DVA.

Conclusion: Treating a complex AVM draining into a DVA is challenging; surgeons have to remove only the AVM portion and preserve the DVA. Super-selective DSA and 3D rotational DSV were performed to develop the surgical strategy.