J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2025; 86(03): 321-326
DOI: 10.1055/a-2344-8555
Case Report

Targeted Transarterial Embolization for Treatment of a Symptomatic Venous Varix in the Draining Vein of an Arteriovenous Malformation: Case Report and Literature Review

Erika Yamada
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Yoshiro Ito
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Division of Stroke Prevention and Treatment, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Masayuki Sato
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Division of Stroke Prevention and Treatment, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Aiki Marusima
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Division of Stroke Prevention and Treatment, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Mikito Hayakawa
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Division of Stroke Prevention and Treatment, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Eiichi Ishikawa
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Yuji Matsumaru
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Division of Stroke Prevention and Treatment, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.

Abstract

Background Venous varices in the draining vein of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can result in compression symptoms. This condition is extremely rare, and its treatments and long-term outcomes are unresolved.

Methods Herein, we describe the treatment of a thrombosed venous varix in a draining vein and review the relevant literature.

Results The patient presented with progressive right-sided hemiparesis and aphasia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed flow void accumulation from the corpus callosum to the left ventricle and a 30-mm mass in the left putamen. The patient underwent targeted transarterial embolization to reduce the blood flow to the venous varix and relieve the neurologic symptoms. The patient had recovered completely from the right hemiparesis and aphasia 4 years after treatment, with a modified Rankin scale score of 0.

Conclusion Targeted transarterial embolization for symptomatic venous varix is a palliative treatment that may improve long-term functional outcomes.

Ethical Declarations

Informed consent was obtained from the patient. The authors declare that this manuscript does not contain previously published materials and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.




Publication History

Received: 09 September 2023

Accepted: 13 June 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
14 June 2024

Article published online:
16 October 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
  • References

  • 1 Jayaraman MV, Marcellus ML, Do HM. et al. Hemorrhage rate in patients with Spetzler-Martin grades IV and V arteriovenous malformations: is treatment justified?. Stroke 2007; 38 (02) 325-329
  • 2 Kim BS, Sarma D, Lee SK, terBrugge KG. Brain edema associated with unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations. Neuroradiology 2009; 51 (05) 327-335
  • 3 Taylor CL, Dutton K, Rappard G. et al. Complications of preoperative embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations. J Neurosurg 2004; 100 (05) 810-812
  • 4 De Leacy R, Ansari SA, Schirmer CM. et al; SNIS Standards and Guidelines Committee, SNIS Board of Directors. Endovascular treatment in the multimodality management of brain arteriovenous malformations: report of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery Standards and Guidelines Committee. J Neurointerv Surg 2022; 14 (11) 1118-1124
  • 5 Kim BS, Yeon JY, Shin HS. et al. Gamma Knife radiosurgery for incidental, symptomatic unruptured, and ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations. Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 50 (02) 222-230
  • 6 Derdeyn CP, Zipfel GJ, Albuquerque FC. et al; American Heart Association Stroke Council. Management of brain arteriovenous malformations: a scientific statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2017; 48 (08) e200-e224
  • 7 D'Aliberti G, Talamonti G, Cenzato M. et al. Arterial and venous aneurysms associated with arteriovenous malformations. World Neurosurg 2015; 83 (02) 188-196
  • 8 Kushi Y, Satow T, Ikedo T. et al. Transvenous coil-plugging technique for a symptomatic giant varix associated with arteriovenous malformation. NMC Case Rep J 2021; 8 (01) 479-483
  • 9 Mineura K, Sasajima H, Itoh Y, Kowada M, Tomura N, Goto K. Development of a huge varix following endovascular embolization for cerebellar arteriovenous malformation. A case report. Acta Radiol 1998; 39 (02) 189-192
  • 10 Sato T, Sasaki T, Matsumoto M. et al. Thalamic arteriovenous malformation with an unusual draining system: case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2004; 44 (06) 298-301
  • 11 Chakraborty S, Eldridge P, Nahser HC. Cerebral haemorrhage from a remote varix in the venous outflow of an arteriovenous malformation treated successfully by embolisation. Br J Radiol 2010; 83 (991) e129-e134
  • 12 Rahme R, Farley CW, Zuccarello M, Ringer AJ, Khan U, Abruzzo TA. Transarterial embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations: a durable treatment for venous side hemorrhage?. Med Hypotheses 2011; 76 (06) 827-830
  • 13 Haryu S, Endo H, Endo T, Sato K, Fujimura M, Tominaga T. Growth of thrombosed cerebral venous varix following resection of cerebral arteriovenous malformation: case report with pathologic consideration. World Neurosurg 2018; 119: 274-277
  • 14 Li G, Wang G, Yu J, Hou K, Yu J. Regression of a symptomatic varix after transarterial embolization of a brain arteriovenous malformation: a case report and literature review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98 (52) e18418
  • 15 Sturiale CL, Puca A, Albanese A, Marchese E, Maira G. Internal cerebral veins varix due to midline arteriovenous malformation: how much is the risk of bleeding?. Neurol Sci 2011; 32 (06) 1253-1254
  • 16 Siekmann R. Basics and principles in the application of Onyx LD liquid embolic system in the endovascular treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Interv Neuroradiol 2005; 11 (Suppl. 01) 131-140
  • 17 Choudhri O, Ivan ME, Lawton MT. Transvenous approach to intracranial arteriovenous malformations: challenging the axioms of arteriovenous malformation therapy?. Neurosurgery 2015; 77 (04) 644-651 , discussion 652
  • 18 Mendes GAC, Kalani MYS, Iosif C. et al. Transvenous curative embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations: a prospective cohort study. Neurosurgery 2018; 83 (05) 957-964