Global Arteriovenous Malformation of the Cervical Region

Abstract

This case was presented as an interesting example of a global arteriovenous malformation (AVM) involving muscle, bone, extradural and intradural spaces of the cervical region.A twenty-eight year old male in October, 1976, fell at work sustaining a blow to his lower back. The following day he complained of cervical pain. Physical examination was negative and he had a full range of movement of his cervical spine.Plain films and tomograms of the cervical spine showed a lytic honeycomblesion of C2 and C3, and a 4 mm. subluxation of C3 on C4 (Fig. 1). The bone scan showed increased flow and decreased static activity in the upper cervical region. The radiological diagnosis was vertebral hemangioma; tumor, infection and histiocytosis were unlikely but important differential considerations.