Vascular Malformations

General information and classification

This designation encompasses a number of non-neoplastic vascular lesions of the CNS.

The four types originally described by McCormick in 1966 are:

Possible additional categories:

• 1. direct fistula AKA arteriovenous fistula (AV- fistula,not AVM).Single or multiple dilated arterioles that connect directly to a vein without a nidus. These are high-flow, high-pressure. Low incidence of hemorrhage. Usually amenable to interventional neuroradiological procedures. Examples include:

     1. vein of Galen malformation (aneurysm)

     2. dural AVM

     3. carotid-cavernous fistula

  2. mixed or unclassified angiomas: 11% of AOVM