Author/Editor		Arkar, Ula; Vipotnik-Vesnaver, Tina; Troha Gergeli, Anja; Bizjak, Neli; Osredkar, Damjan
Title		Children with arteriovenous malformations of the central nervous system
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		, št. Vol. 28
Publication year		2022
Volume		str. 1-6
ISSN		1643-3750 - Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
Language		eng
Abstract		Background Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the central nervous system (CNS) is a developmental condition that consists of a focal mass of interconnected veins and arteries. This retrospective study was conducted at the only tertiary center in Slovenia and included 12 pediatric cases of AVM of the CNS, diagnosed between 2000 and 2020. Material and methods The patients were collected based on the ICD coding system. All available medical documentation was reviewed. Results Our cohort included 6 boys and 6 girls. The mean age of patients was 9.1 years, range 1 month to 16.3 years. The estimated incidence of pediatric AVM of the CNS in Slovenia is 0.22/100 000 children per year. Ten patients had brain AVM and 2 patients had spinal AVM. At first presentation, 7 patients presented with intracerebral hemorrhage, 2 with focal neurological deficits, 1 with epilepsy, 1 with chronic headache, and 1 patient was asymptomatic. Two patients had their first hemorrhage after an already-established diagnosis of AVM. Endovascular embolization was performed in 50%, surgical resection in 33%, and conservative treatment in 17% of patients. Five patients had no residual neurological sequelae, 6 had some neurological deficits, and 1 patient died. Complete obliteration of AVM was achieved in 3 patients treated with surgery. They all had a favorable outcome, with no or mild deficit. Conclusions The study findings support that early diagnosis and management are required to prevent neurological deterioration and vessel rupture from AVM. Endovascular embolization was the most commonly used procedure. Complete obliteration was associated with good neurological outcome.
Keywords		arteriovenous malformations children central nervous system arteriovenske malformacije otroci osrednji živčni sistem