Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
A CT scan produces clear pictures of bones, muscles, tissue, organs, blood vessels and the brain that a regular X-ray cannot show.
Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
Tangled arteries and veins that interfere with blood flow
An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangled cluster of arteries and veins that can interfere with the blood flow in an organ. You can have an AVM at birth (congenital), which can occur anywhere in your body. Its cause is unknown.
In rare cases, AVMs can form in your brain. Although rare, a brain AVM can severely harm you if it bursts and bleeds.
Symptoms
You may not experience symptoms of arteriovenous malformation, depending on its location and size. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Muscle weakness
- Pain
- Paralysis
Overview
Symptoms
You may not experience symptoms of arteriovenous malformation, depending on its location and size. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Muscle weakness
- Pain
- Paralysis
To successfully treat arteriovenous malformation, your physicians at IU Health will use the most advanced imaging. Brain studies help neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists at the IU Health Neuroscience Center to diagnose brain AVMs. They also help determine exactly which blood vessels to treat.
Once they clearly understand the location, size and specific characteristics of your AVM, neurosurgeons can help you select the most successful treatment plan.
Your physicians at the IU Health Neuroscience Center will use advanced imaging technologies, including:
- Cerebral angiography
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed tomography scan (CT scan)
Diagnosis
To successfully treat arteriovenous malformation, your physicians at IU Health will use the most advanced imaging. Brain studies help neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists at the IU Health Neuroscience Center to diagnose brain AVMs. They also help determine exactly which blood vessels to treat.
Once they clearly understand the location, size and specific characteristics of your AVM, neurosurgeons can help you select the most successful treatment plan.
Your physicians at the IU Health Neuroscience Center will use advanced imaging technologies, including:
- Cerebral angiography
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed tomography scan (CT scan)
As leaders in treating AVMs, IU Health physicians will provide you with specialized expertise and sophisticated, innovative treatment options. These will depend on the unique characteristics of your AVM. In some cases, your doctors may suggest a combination of treatments. These treatments may include:
- Endovascular Embolization
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- Surgical Removal
Endovascular Embolization
This less-invasive procedure successfully treats AVMs deep in the brain. In endovascular embolization, your interventional neuroradiologist will insert a catheter into an artery in your groin and thread it up into your brain. The catheter delivers a glue-like substance into the AVM, blocking its blood flow and causing it to shrink. Sometimes, your doctor can only use endovascular embolization, and sometimes they can combine it with additional treatment.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Doctors at IU Health use a noninvasive treatment called stereotactic radiosurgery to target radiation to shrink your AVM. Our radiation oncologists and neurosurgeons use 3D images of the brain to help them deliver very high doses of radiation directly to the AVM. The radiation causes scar tissue to form around your AVM, blocking its blood supply. The precision of this method exposes very little of your surrounding healthy tissue.
Surgical Removal
If your brain AVM bleeds or cannot easily reach it, your doctors may recommend surgery to remove it. During surgery, our expert neurosurgeons clip the vessels that feed your AVM—cutting off its blood supply—and then remove it. In some patients, doctors use endovascular embolization before surgery to shrink the AVM, increasing the likelihood of successful removal.
Treatment
As leaders in treating AVMs, IU Health physicians will provide you with specialized expertise and sophisticated, innovative treatment options. These will depend on the unique characteristics of your AVM. In some cases, your doctors may suggest a combination of treatments. These treatments may include:
- Endovascular Embolization
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- Surgical Removal
Endovascular Embolization
This less-invasive procedure successfully treats AVMs deep in the brain. In endovascular embolization, your interventional neuroradiologist will insert a catheter into an artery in your groin and thread it up into your brain. The catheter delivers a glue-like substance into the AVM, blocking its blood flow and causing it to shrink. Sometimes, your doctor can only use endovascular embolization, and sometimes they can combine it with additional treatment.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Doctors at IU Health use a noninvasive treatment called stereotactic radiosurgery to target radiation to shrink your AVM. Our radiation oncologists and neurosurgeons use 3D images of the brain to help them deliver very high doses of radiation directly to the AVM. The radiation causes scar tissue to form around your AVM, blocking its blood supply. The precision of this method exposes very little of your surrounding healthy tissue.
Surgical Removal
If your brain AVM bleeds or cannot easily reach it, your doctors may recommend surgery to remove it. During surgery, our expert neurosurgeons clip the vessels that feed your AVM—cutting off its blood supply—and then remove it. In some patients, doctors use endovascular embolization before surgery to shrink the AVM, increasing the likelihood of successful removal.
