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Compendium of scalp arteriovenous malformation (AVM) cases—a retrospective study and review

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European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections between arterial feeding vessels and draining veins, devoid of a normal capillary bed. Treatment options include complete surgical excision or eradication. Following surgical excision, the defect can be closed primarily or covered with the preplanned local flap or skin graft. We aimed to assess various cases of AVMs and review the current literature to determine a treatment rationale and improve surgical outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective study including data of 21 patients with extra cranial scalp AVMs was carried out at our institute between 2010 and 2016. Fourteen patients underwent digital subtraction angiography; remaining patients were evaluated by MR/CT angiography. Eighteen patients underwent direct excision. Three patients with large AVMs (> 10 cm) underwent preoperative embolization followed by surgical excision.

Results

Of the 21 patients with extra cranial scalp AVMs, there were 11 males and 10 females with mean age of 24 years ranging from 3 to 41 years. The mean duration of symptom was 6.7 years. Superficial temporal artery (62%) was the most commonly involved feeder vessel. Eighteen patients underwent direct excision while three underwent embolization followed by excision. Two patients had recurrence of symptoms. There was partial flap necrosis in three patients which were managed with dressings and skin graft.

Conclusions

Surgical excision of AVMs, which includes ligation of all arterial feeders near the nidus and excision of nidus, is a safe option with lesser complications and gives good results. Preoperative embolization reduces vascularity and helps in easy identification of AVMs during surgery thus achieving complete excision and improving the prognosis of treatment especially in the large AVM.

Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Paul Brand Building, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632004, India

    Suraj Yeshwant Rane, Shashank Lamba, Amish Jayantilal Gohil & Ashish Kumar Gupta

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  1. Suraj Yeshwant Rane
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  2. Shashank Lamba
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  3. Amish Jayantilal Gohil
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  4. Ashish Kumar Gupta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shashank Lamba.

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Funding

The study did not have any sponsors or funding sources.

Conflict of interest

Suraj Yeshwant Rane, Shashank Lamba, Amish Jayantilal Gohil, Ashish Kumar Gupta declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of retrospective study, formal consent from a local ethics committee is not required.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Additional informed consent was obtained from all individual participants for whom identifying information is included in this article.

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Patients provided written consent for the use of their images.

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Rane, S.Y., Lamba, S., Gohil, A.J. et al. Compendium of scalp arteriovenous malformation (AVM) cases—a retrospective study and review. Eur J Plast Surg 41, 223–228 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-017-1364-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-017-1364-1

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