{"id":52368,"date":"2025-04-25T21:59:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T01:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/mayo-health-library\/arteriovenous-malformation\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T12:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:05:11","slug":"arteriovenous-malformation","status":"publish","type":"mayo","link":"https:\/\/hancockhealth.apgar.digital\/de\/mayo-health-library\/arteriovenous-malformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Arteriovenous malformation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container mx-auto   wordpress-block wordpress- core-\">\n<p>An arteriovenous malformation, also known as an AVM, is a tangle of blood vessels that creates irregular connections between arteries and veins. This disrupts blood flow and prevents tissues from receiving oxygen. An <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> can occur anywhere in the body, including in the brain.<\/p>\n<p>Arteries move oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain and other organs. Veins drain the oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs and heart. When an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> disrupts this critical process, surrounding tissues might not get enough oxygen.<\/p>\n<p>Because the tangled blood vessels in an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> do not form properly, they can weaken and burst. If an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> in the brain bursts, it can cause bleeding in the brain, which can lead to a stroke or brain damage. Bleeding in the brain is known as a hemorrhage.<\/p>\n<p>Read more about brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation).<\/p>\n<p>The cause of <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformations\">AVMs<\/abbr> is not clear. Rarely, they are passed down in families.<\/p>\n<p>Once diagnosed, a brain <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> often can be treated to prevent or reduce the risk of complications.<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms of an arteriovenous malformation, also known as an AVM, can vary. Sometimes an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> doesn&#8217;t cause symptoms. The <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> can be found while getting images for another health concern.<\/p>\n<p>Often the first symptoms appear after bleeding occurs. Besides bleeding, symptoms can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trouble with thinking that gets worse over time.<\/li>\n<li>Headaches.<\/li>\n<li>Nausea and vomiting.<\/li>\n<li>Seizures.<\/li>\n<li>Loss of consciousness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Other possible symptoms include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Weak muscles, such as weakness in the legs.<\/li>\n<li>Loss of movement and feeling in one part of the body, known as paralysis.<\/li>\n<li>Loss of coordination that can cause trouble with walking.<\/li>\n<li>Trouble doing tasks that require planning.<\/li>\n<li>Back pain.<\/li>\n<li>Dizziness.<\/li>\n<li>Vision problems. This may include losing part of the field of vision, trouble moving the eyes or swelling of part of the optic nerve.<\/li>\n<li>Trouble with speech or understanding language.<\/li>\n<li>Numbness, tingling or sudden pain.<\/li>\n<li>Memory loss or dementia.<\/li>\n<li>Seeing or hearing things that aren&#8217;t there, known as hallucinations.<\/li>\n<li>Confusion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Children and teens might have trouble with learning or behavior.<\/p>\n<p>One type of <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> called a vein of Galen malformation causes symptoms that appear at or shortly after birth. A vein of Galen malformation occurs deep inside the brain. Signs can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A buildup of fluid in the brain that causes the head to be larger than usual.<\/li>\n<li>Swollen veins on the scalp.<\/li>\n<li>Seizures.<\/li>\n<li>Failure to thrive.<\/li>\n<li>Congestive heart failure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>When to see a doctor<\/h3>\n<p>Seek medical attention if you have any of the symptoms of an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>, such as headaches, dizziness, vision problems, seizures and changes in thinking. Many <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformations\">AVMs<\/abbr> are found during testing for a different condition, such as during a <abbr title=\"computerized tomography\">CT<\/abbr> scan or an <abbr title=\"magnetic resonance imaging\">MRT<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n<p>An arteriovenous malformation happens when arteries and veins connect in an irregular way. Experts don&#8217;t understand why this happens. Certain genetic changes might play a role, but most types are not usually passed down in families.<\/p>\n<p>Rarely, having a family history of an arteriovenous malformation can increase your risk. But most types aren&#8217;t inherited.<\/p>\n<p>Certain hereditary conditions can increase your risk of an arteriovenous malformation. These include hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome.<\/p>\n<p>The most common complications of an arteriovenous malformation are bleeding and seizures. Bleeding can cause brain damage and may cause death if you don&#8217;t get treated.<\/p>\n<p>To diagnose an arteriovenous malformation, also known as an AVM, your healthcare professional reviews your symptoms and gives you a physical exam.<\/p>\n<p>Your healthcare professional may listen for a sound called a bruit. A bruit is a whooshing sound caused by blood quickly flowing through arteries and veins of an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>. It sounds like water rushing through a narrow pipe. A bruit can interfere with your hearing or sleep or cause emotional distress.<\/p>\n<p>Tests commonly used to help diagnose <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cerebral angiography.<\/strong> This test looks for an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> in the brain. Also called arteriography, this test uses a special dye called a contrast agent injected into an artery. The dye highlights the blood vessels to better show them on X-rays.<\/li>\n<li><strong><abbr title=\"Computerized tomography\">CT<\/abbr> scan.<\/strong> These scans can help show bleeding. <abbr title=\"Computerized tomography\">CT<\/abbr> scans use X-rays to create images of the head, brain or spinal cord.<\/li>\n<li><strong><abbr title=\"Computerized tomography\">CT<\/abbr> angiography.<\/strong> This test combines a <abbr title=\"Computerized tomography\">CT<\/abbr> scan with an injection of a dye to help find an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> that is bleeding.<\/li>\n<li><strong><abbr title=\"magnetic resonance imaging\">MRT<\/abbr>.<\/strong> Ein <abbr title=\"magnetic resonance imaging\">MRT<\/abbr> uses powerful magnets and radio waves to show detailed images of tissues. An <abbr title=\"magnetic resonance imaging\">MRT<\/abbr> can pick up on small changes in these tissues.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Magnetic resonance angiography, also known as an MRA.<\/strong> <abbr title=\"Magnetic resonance angiography\">MRA<\/abbr> captures the pattern and the speed and distance of blood flow through the irregular vessels.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transcranial doppler ultrasound.<\/strong> This test can help diagnose an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> and tell whether the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> is bleeding. The test uses high-frequency sound waves aimed at arteries to create an image of blood flow and its speed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Treatment of an arteriovenous malformation, also known as an AVM, depends on where it is found, your symptoms and the risks of treatment. Sometimes an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> is monitored with regular imaging tests to watch for changes. Other <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformations\">AVMs<\/abbr> require treatment. Your healthcare professional may recommend conservative management if the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> hasn&#8217;t burst and you are not at high risk of the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> bleeding.<\/p>\n<p>When deciding whether to treat an arteriovenous malformation, healthcare professionals consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> has bled.<\/li>\n<li>Whether the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> is causing symptoms other than bleeding.<\/li>\n<li>Whether the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> is in a part of the brain where it can safely be treated.<\/li>\n<li>Other characteristics of the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>, such as its size.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Medicines<\/h3>\n<p>Medicines can help manage symptoms related to an arteriovenous malformation, such as seizures, headaches and back pain.<\/p>\n<h3>Surgery<\/h3>\n<p>The main treatment of an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> is surgery. Surgery might completely remove the arteriovenous malformation. This treatment might be recommended if there is a high risk of bleeding. Surgery usually is an option if the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> is in an area where removing it has little risk of causing damage to brain tissue.<\/p>\n<p>Endovascular embolization is a type of surgery that involves threading a catheter through the arteries to the arteriovenous malformation. Then a substance is injected to close parts of the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> to reduce the blood flow. This might be done before brain surgery or radiosurgery to help reduce the risk of complications.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes stereotactic radiosurgery is used to treat an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>. The treatment uses intense, highly focused beams of radiation to damage the blood vessels. This helps stop the blood supply to the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n<p>You and your healthcare team discuss whether to treat your <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>, weighing the possible benefits against the risks.<\/p>\n<h3>Follow-up<\/h3>\n<p>After treatment for an arteriovenous malformation, you might need regular follow-up visits with your healthcare team. You also might need more imaging tests to make sure that the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> has been successfully treated and that the malformation has not come back. You&#8217;ll also need regular imaging tests and follow-up visits with your healthcare team if your <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> is being monitored.<\/p>\n<p>Learning that you have an arteriovenous malformation can be concerning. But you can take steps to cope with the emotions that may come with your diagnosis and recovery, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Learn about arteriovenous malformations, also known as AVMs.<\/strong> This can help you make informed decisions about your care. Ask about the size and location of the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>, and what that means for your treatment options.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accept your emotions.<\/strong> Complications of <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>, such as hemorrhage and stroke, can affect you emotionally.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep friends and family close.<\/strong> Friends and family can provide the practical support you may need. Ask the people you&#8217;re close to if they can come to healthcare appointments with you. Lean on your friends and family for emotional support.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Talk about how you feel.<\/strong> Talking to a friend, family member, counselor, social worker or clergy member may help. You also might find comfort in a support group. Ask your healthcare team about support groups in your area. Or reach out to a national organization, such as the American Stroke Association or The Aneurysm and <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> Foundation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An arteriovenous malformation, also known as an AVM, might be diagnosed in an emergency situation. Some <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformations\">AVMs<\/abbr> are diagnosed right after bleeding, known as a hemorrhage, or a seizure. An <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> also may be found after other symptoms prompt imaging scans.<\/p>\n<p>But sometimes an <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> is found during testing for another condition. You might then be referred to a doctor trained in brain and nervous system conditions, such as a neurologist, interventional neuroradiologist or neurosurgeon.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some things you can do to get ready for your appointment.<\/p>\n<h3>What you can do<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Be aware of pre-appointment restrictions.<\/strong> When you make the appointment, ask if there&#8217;s anything you need to do in advance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Write down your symptoms,<\/strong> including any that may not seem related to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make a list of all medicines,<\/strong> vitamins and supplements you&#8217;re taking, including doses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ask a family member or friend to come with you,<\/strong> if possible. Someone else might help you remember the information you&#8217;re given.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Write down questions to ask.<\/strong> Don&#8217;t be afraid to ask questions that may come up during your appointment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr>, some basic questions to ask include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What are other possible causes for my symptoms?<\/li>\n<li>What tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis?<\/li>\n<li>What are my treatment options and the pros and cons for each?<\/li>\n<li>What results can I expect?<\/li>\n<li>What kind of follow-up should I expect?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What to expect from your doctor<\/h3>\n<p>Your neurologist is likely to ask about your symptoms, if any. Your neurologist also may do a physical exam and schedule tests to confirm the diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>The tests gather information about the size and location of the <abbr title=\"arteriovenous malformation\">AVM<\/abbr> to help direct your treatment options. You may be asked:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When did your symptoms begin?<\/li>\n<li>Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?<\/li>\n<li>How severe are your symptoms?<\/li>\n<li>What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?<\/li>\n<li>What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this condition, a tangle of blood vessels affects the flow of blood and oxygen. Treatment can help.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[1686,1685,1682],"class_list":["post-52368","mayo","type-mayo","status-publish","hentry","tag-anatomical-structure","tag-condition","tag-person-group-concept","content_type-diseases-conditions"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Arteriovenous malformation - Hancock Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"de_DE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Arteriovenous malformation - Hancock Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this condition, a tangle of blood vessels affects the flow of blood and oxygen. 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