A rare intraosseous arteriovenous malformation of the spine

Abstract

The authors report the case of a patient with an intraosseous spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) presenting as an epidural mass lesion that was causing spinal cord compression. The 59-year-old woman had bilateral numbness, weakness, and hyperreflexia of both legs. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed intermediate T1 signal and hyperintense T2 signal involving the right transverse process, bilateral pedicles, and T-5 spinous process; the lesion's epidural extension was causing severe canal compromise and cord displacement. Coil embolization was performed, and the patient underwent resection, after which preoperative symptoms improved. Histopathological analysis revealed a benign vascular proliferation consistent with an intraosseous spinal AVM. On review of the literature, the authors found this case to be the second intraosseous spinal AVM, and the first in a patient whose clinical presentation was consistent with that of a mass lesion of the bone.