Spinal vascular malformations

Spinal vascular malformations (SVM) are rare but knowledge of them is important as if undiagnosed and untreated they can lead to serious complications.

Pathology

There are two main types of SVMs :

• spinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF): 70% of SVMs
  • pial: small, large, or giant
  • dural AVF (DAVF)
  • epidural (extradural)
• spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM): 30% of SVMs
  • intramedullary
  • pial
  • epidural
  • intra- and extramedullary