Arteriovenous Hemangioma (AVH)

Arteriovenous Hemangioma (AVH)

Article
Brain & Nerve
Diseases & Conditions
+2
Contributed byMaulik P. Purohit MD MPHMay 02, 2018

What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

  • Arteriovenous Malformation
  • AVH (Arteriovenous Hemangioma)
  • AV Malformation

What is Arteriovenous Hemangioma? (Definition/Background Information)

  • An Arteriovenous Hemangioma (AVH) is a benign vascular abnormality involving a complex grid of interconnecting arterial and venous structures. It is an acquired condition
  • The incidence of occurrence of Arteriovenous Hemangioma is generally rare
  • AVH may appear just beneath the skin, or deep inside the body tissues. It is normally found in the head, neck, spinal cord region, of children and young adults
  • Sometimes skin discoloration is observed, if AVH forms below the skin (termed as a superficial AVH). Most do not experience any symptoms
  • Periodic observation is maintained for asymptomatic cases. Surgical management may be proposed, depending on the signs and symptoms caused by the tumor
  • Prognosis of an individual with AVH is normally good

Who gets Arteriovenous Hemangioma? (Age and Sex Distribution)

  • Arteriovenous Hemangioma usually affects young adults and children
  • Both males and females are affected. Though, it has a slight predilection for males
  • There is no known predilection towards any ethnic/racial group

What are the Risk Factors for Arteriovenous Hemangioma? (Predisposing Factors)

The risk of Arteriovenous Hemangioma is linked to the following factors:

  • It is thought that an inflammatory stimuli, such as an infection or injury, may trigger an existing vascular malformation to develop to form AVH
  • Certain endocrine hormones have been mentioned as trigger factors for AVH formation
  • AVHs are seen in association with disorders such as, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and von Hippel-Landau disease
  • Factors such as injury, sepsis, pregnancy, and puberty are known to play a role in increasing the size of AVH

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases ones chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Arteriovenous Hemangioma? (Etiology)

  • The exact cause of Arteriovenous Hemangioma formation is unidentified. It is suggested that AVH might be linked to abnormal blood vessel proliferations due to hormonal effect, trauma, infection, or just a birth defect
  • The origin of AVH could be congenital; associated with fetal (or embryonic) developmental defects

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Arteriovenous Hemangioma?

The presentations are based on the location of AVH. The signs and symptoms of Arteriovenous Hemangioma include:

  • In many individuals, AVH remain asymptomatic
  • Some tumors grow at a slow rate and some do not change in their size. Superficial ones (those appearing just beneath the skin) may show reddish-blue skin discoloration
  • If the AVH is found within the brain then the presentations are: Epileptic seizures, headaches, difficulty in communication, physical coordination, walking, and in performing normal daily activities
  • Prominent veins are visible on the forehead and scalp in AVH located within the brain
  • In children, large head size is seen, if they are associated with certain syndromes
  • Inflammation is felt due to a soft tumor mass; the swelling is due to blocked blood flow

How is Arteriovenous Hemangioma Diagnosed?

Arteriovenous Hemangioma is diagnosed by:

  • Physical exam with evaluation of medical history
  • CT, MRI scan of the affected region
  • Angiography; an imaging technique to study blood vessels
  • Tissue biopsy: Histopathological studies conducted on a biopsy specimen; if the malformation is at an accessible location. The biopsy is examined by a pathologist under a microscope

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Arteriovenous Hemangioma?

The complications from Arteriovenous Hemangioma could include:

  • Hemorrhaging of AVH, occurring spontaneously and going unnoticed. This may lead to a stroke, depending on the location of the malformation
  • Severe headaches and seizures; progressive neurological problems
  • Heart failure in children
  • Blood loss during invasive treatment methods may be heavy; blood may accumulate outside the blood vessels into surrounding soft tissues (hematoma)
  • Recurrence of AVH after surgery, if they are deep-seated. Superficial lesions generally do not recur
  • Damage to vital nerves, blood vessels, and surrounding structures during surgery

How is Arteriovenous Hemangioma Treated?

Treatment measures for Arteriovenous Hemangioma include:

  • If there are no symptoms, then non-operative measures are adopted; and periodic observations maintained
  • Embolization is used to provide temporary relief from the symptoms, and reduce blood loss during a surgical procedure
  • Wide surgical excision of Arteriovenous Hemangioma, for removal of the entire lesion. If it is not fully removed, then it might recur
  • When AVH is at an inaccessible location, or is unsafe for surgical intervention; the use of radiotherapy, drugs and medications may be considered
  • Post-operative care is important: Minimum activity level is to be ensured until the surgical wound heals
  • Follow-up care with regular screening and check-ups are important

How can Arteriovenous Hemangioma be Prevented?

Current medical research has not established a way of preventing Arteriovenous Hemangioma formation.

What is the Prognosis of Arteriovenous Hemangioma? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

  • Most Arteriovenous Hemangioma malformations are asymptomatic. They may not require any treatment, or they may be addressed symptomatically (avoiding surgery)
  • Prognosis is generally very good when the lesions are small and superficial; their recurrence risk is also low when surgically excised
  • It is medically challenging and risky to remove the malformation located deep inside the body. Besides, if the surgical excision does not completely remove the malformation, there is a chance that these might recur

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Arteriovenous Hemangioma:

Most Arteriovenous Hemangiomas are found while examining or treating an individual for some other health condition. This is medically termed as an ‘incidental finding’.

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Maulik P. Purohit MD MPH picture
Approved by

Maulik P. Purohit MD MPH

Assistant Medical Director, Medical Editorial Board, DoveMed Team

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