Abstract
A characteristic pattern of electrophysiological changes was found in 24 patients with confirmed spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The AVMs were limited to the thoracic cord in seven, involved the conus and the cauda equina in 10, and involved all levels in six. Of the patients, 88% had at least one definite electrophysiological abnormality: nerve conduction studies showed abnormal results in 43% (10 of 23), needle electromyography in 77% (17 of 22), and tibial somatosensory evoked potentials in 88% (7 of 8). The pattern of involvement was of scattered, multiple, bilateral thoracolumbosacral radiculopathies, consistent with axonal or neuronal destruction, associated with paraspinal fibrillations or abnormal activation of motor unit potentials. Electrophysiological abnormalities were seen in most patients with lower motor neuron clinical deficit. These abnormalities depended on the caudal extension of the AVM, on an arterial supply at T-10 or below, and on the duration of symptoms. In addition to the expected abnormalities in the distribution of the AVM location, four patients had electrical changes at a distance, which may have been due to venous stasis.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Aminoff M. J., Barnard R. O., Logue V. The pathophysiology of spinal vascular malformations. J Neurol Sci. 1974 Oct;23(2):255–263. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(74)90229-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Aminoff M. J., Logue V. Clinical features of spinal vascular malformations. Brain. 1974 Mar;97(1):197–210. doi: 10.1093/brain/97.1.197. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Aminoff M. J., Logue V. The prognosis of patients with spinal vascular malformations. Brain. 1974 Mar;97(1):211–218. doi: 10.1093/brain/97.1.211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cogen P., Stein B. M. Spinal cord arteriovenous malformations with significant intramedullary components. J Neurosurg. 1983 Sep;59(3):471–478. doi: 10.3171/jns.1983.59.3.0471. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gillilan L. A. Veins of the spinal cord. Anatomic details; suggested clinical applications. Neurology. 1970 Sep;20(9):860–868. doi: 10.1212/wnl.20.9.860. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kendall B. E., Logue V. Spinal epidural angiomatous malformations draining into intrathecal veins. Neuroradiology. 1977 Jun 27;13(4):181–189. doi: 10.1007/BF00344211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Oldfield E. H., Di Chiro G., Quindlen E. A., Rieth K. G., Doppman J. L. Successful treatment of a group of spinal cord arteriovenous malformations by interruption of dural fistula. J Neurosurg. 1983 Dec;59(6):1019–1030. doi: 10.3171/jns.1983.59.6.1019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosenblum B., Oldfield E. H., Doppman J. L., Di Chiro G. Spinal arteriovenous malformations: a comparison of dural arteriovenous fistulas and intradural AVM's in 81 patients. J Neurosurg. 1987 Dec;67(6):795–802. doi: 10.3171/jns.1987.67.6.0795. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Symon L., Kuyama H., Kendall B. Dural arteriovenous malformations of the spine. Clinical features and surgical results in 55 cases. J Neurosurg. 1984 Feb;60(2):238–247. doi: 10.3171/jns.1984.60.2.0238. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tobin W. D., Layton D. D. The diagnosis and natural history of spinal cord arteriovenous malformations. Mayo Clin Proc. 1976 Oct;51(10):637–646. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yaşargil M. G., Symon L., Teddy P. J. Arteriovenous malformations of the spinal cord. Adv Tech Stand Neurosurg. 1984;11:61–102. doi: 10.1007/978-3-7091-7015-1_4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]