Posterior Fossa Arterio-Venous Malformation

Abstract

The posterior fossa is not a common site for arterio-venous malformations. Only six of 92 A-V malformations seen at Walter Reed and the Second General Hospitals since 1952 were located below the tentorium. Of these, four were located laterally in the cerebellar hemisphere and cerebellopontine angle and two were situated in the vermis. Only one-half of the patients presented with a history of hemorrhage (subarachnoid or parenchymal). Three of the patients with laterally located lesions presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of a mass lesion; i.e., intermittant hedaches, pain in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve, nystagmus, diminished hearing and truncal ataxia. Two of these patients complained of tinnitus when lying on the side of the lesion. In only one of six cases was a bruit audible to the examiner.