Endovascular treatment of head and neck arteriovenous malformations: long-term angiographic and quality of life results

Abstract

AimTo present the long-term angiographic and subjective results of patients with head and neck arteriovenous malformations (HNAVMs) after endovascular treatment.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the medical files of 14 patients with HNAVM who were treated between 2000 and 2014. The treatment of choice was a transarterial superselective microcatheter-based approach followed by embolization using liquid embolic agents. The patients were asked to answer a quality of life questionnaire about the following symptoms before and after treatment: pain, functional impairment, cosmetic deformity, impairment in daily life, and bleeding.ResultsComplete or >90% closure of the AVM was achieved in 6 of 14 patients (43%). >50% shunt reduction was achieved in 10 patients (71%). Three complications were encountered in a total of 86 interventional procedures. Six patients presented with bleeding which was cured in all cases (100%). Four of the 14 patients (29%) specified pain which was resolved in two of them. Another six patients (43%) presented with functional impairment; four were cured and two noted an improvement. All 14 patients presented with cosmetic concerns; four were cured and eight experienced a clearly visible improvement. Nine of 13 patients (69%) presented with impairment in daily life which was resolved in five patients and four reported an improvement.ConclusionsEndovascular embolization is a well-tolerated therapy for HNAVM with a low complication rate. Good angiographic results, positive subjective results, and improvement in different aspects of quality of life can be achieved.