Spinal cord arteriovenous malformation: a pediatric presentation.

Dra. Rosana Herminia Scola – Serviço de Doenças Neuromusculares / Hospital de Clínicas da UFPR Rua General Carneiro 181 / 3o andar 80060-900 Curitiba PR – Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] Spinal vascular malformations in child are rare and still under-diagnosed entities that typically lead to progressive spinal cord symptoms and myelopathy if not properly treated. This malformation can be differentiated into congenital (arteriovenous malformations and cavernomas) or acquired (dural arteriovenous fistulae) forms. Spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (SCAVM) comprise a complex and heterogeneous group of lesions with a number of subtypes that have distinct clinical presentations, anatomic features and natural histories. While there are important differences between subtypes, the majority of patients with SCAVM present first clinical manifestations only in adolescence or adulthood. We describe the characteristics on child with SCAVM and show the possible treatment of this disease on childhood because only few cases have been published.