National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Arteriovenous Malformations is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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National Institutes of Health
Arteriovenous Malformations
Also called: AVM
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are defects in your vascular system. The vascular system includes arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries carry blood away from the heart to other organs; veins carry blood back to the heart. Capillaries connect the arteries and veins. An AVM is a snarled tangle of arteries and veins. They are connected to each other, with no capillaries. That interferes with the blood circulation in an organ.
AVMs can happen anywhere, but they are more common in the brain or spinal cord. Most people with brain or spinal cord AVMs have few, if any, major symptoms. Sometimes they can cause seizures or headaches.
AVMs are rare. The cause is not known, but they seem to develop during pregnancy or soon after birth. Doctors use imaging tests to detect them.
Medicines can help with the symptoms from AVMs. The greatest danger of an AVM is hemorrhage. Prevention can include surgery or focused radiation therapy. Because surgery can be risky, you and your doctor need to make a decision carefully.
NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Arteriovenous Malformation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Arteriovenous Malformation
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Overviews
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Arteriovenous Malformations and Other Vascular Lesions of the Central Nervous System(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Also available in Spanish
- What Is an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)?(American Stroke Association)
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Arteriovenous Malformations and Other Vascular Lesions of the Central Nervous System
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Catheter Angiography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- CT Angiography (CTA)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- MR Angiography (MRA)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- Ultrasound -- Vascular(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
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Treatment
- Catheter Embolization(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- Gamma-Knife Radiosurgery(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Intracranial Vascular Treatments(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
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Specific Conditions
- Arteriovenous Fistula(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Congenital Vascular Malformation(Vascular Disease Foundation) - PDF
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Familial Cavernous Malformations (CCM) - Common Hispanic Mutation(Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network)
- Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia - HHT(Society of Interventional Radiology)
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Related Issues
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Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS)(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Arteriovenous Malformations(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Arteriovenous Malformations
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Parkes Weber syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndrome
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Vascular anomalies: hemangiomas and beyond--part 2, Slow-flow lesions.
- Article: Vascular anomalies: hemangiomas and beyond--part 1, Fast-flow lesions.
- Article: Systematic review and meta-analysis of open surgical and endovascular management...
- Arteriovenous Malformations -- see more articles
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Organizations
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Also available in Spanish
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Patient Handouts
- Arteriovenous malformation - cerebral
- Also available in Spanish
- Cerebral angiography
- Also available in Spanish
- Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome
- Also available in Spanish
- Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome
- Also available in Spanish
- Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula
- Also available in Spanish
- Stereotactic radiosurgery - discharge
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
