Spinal Vascular Diseases

Spinal vascular malformations are rare and often misdiagnosed entities. They comprise congenital cavernomas, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and presumably acquired dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs). AVMs include perimedullary fistulas, glomerular AVMs, and juvenile AVMs (Table 4.4.1). The intradural AVMs are supplied by spinal cordsupplying arteries, whereas the dural malformations are supplied by meningeal arteries as branches of the radicular artery (Fig. 4.4.1). Eighty percent of all spinal AVMs are dural fistulas with an incidence of 5–10/million/year. Dural AVFs first become symptomatic in later adult life, whereas medullary AVMs affect young adults.