Tangled throughout life: A case of paediatric ruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation

• Published in: Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Main Author: Syed Hassan S.M.H.; Ahmad N.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2021
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85116665053&partnerID=40&md5=503a3b42ed283caf56c4107015a291a2

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in children is uncommon occurrence defined as presence of arteriovenous shunting through coiled and tortuous vascular connections. We discussed a case of a 3-year old girl presented with acute left facial asymmetry and right-sided limb weakness. Neurological examination revealed MRC scale of 0 out of 5 for power on her right side. Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) revealed bilateral thalamic AVM. Surgical resection was not advisable in view of deep-seated location. Paediatric AVM most often become apparent following rupture with majority presents with headache. Ruptured paediatric AVM carries high burden of morbidity and mortality. Paediatric intracranial haemorrhage posed tremendous concern regarding its long-term outcome. Treatment would be more appropriate sooner rather than later especially for those presented with ruptured AVM. Surgical resection remains the gold standard treatment for all accessible paediatric AVMs with embolization and radiosurgery as adjunctive therapies. AVM in paediatric population is rare but carries grim prognosis. © 2021 UPM Press. All rights reserved.