Strong Heart and Vascular Center
Division of Vascular Surgery
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Vascular Malformations
What are Vascular Malformations?
Vascular malformations are tangles of arteries or veins that
interfere with circulation. They are either present from birth
or (more rarely) result from an injury later in life.
Arteriovenous malformations (involving
both arteries and veins) are the most common and can grow to
several inches in diameter. Although they can
occur
anywhere in the body, about half occur in the brain
and spinal cord. When they occur in the brain and spinal
cord, they present a risk for stroke, paralysis, loss of vision
& speech
and
even death.
Cavernous malformations - a group of tightly packed, thin-walled
blood vessels filled with slow-moving, often clotted blood that
will often require treatment.
Venous malformations - benign tumors that
consist of abnormally large veins separated by normal brain tissue.
They cause no symptoms and can be left
untreated.
Telangiectases - a group of swollen capillaries
measuring less than an inch in diameter. Only when large numbers
of these develop will symptoms (such as headaches or
seizures)
result.
Causes
and risk factors for
Vascular Malformations
There is no specific type of person more likely than others to
be affected by vascular malformations.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of malformation and the
location. Symptoms usually won't appear until a person
is in their twenties, thirties, or forties - or they may have no symptoms
Diagnosing Vascular Malformations
To diagnose vascular malformations, a physician will first listen
to blood flow using a stethoscope, and the following imaging
techniques can be used to locate the vascular malformations.
Most people with arteriovenous malformations don’t require
treatment, but when they do, treatment options include...
