Incidence of vascular malformations in spontaneous intra-cerebral haemorrhage in children

Aim To assess the incidence of vascular malformations in children presenting with non-traumatic intra-cerebral haemorrhage and outline the need for radiological investigations. Materials and methods Between 1993 and 2002, 26 children presented with spontaneous intra-cerebral haemorrhage at a mean age of 26 months (range 1–192 months). Results Twenty-two children had, as first treatment, surgical removal of the haematoma and any malformation found. One patient with no evidence of vascular malformation had conservative treatment, two had embolisation and one had stereotactic radiosurgery of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The diagnosis of vascular malformation was confirmed histologically and/or radiologically in 16 (61%) patients. Of these 16 patients, 7 were AVMs, 1 thrombosed middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm, 1 cavernous angioma, 6 aggregates of abnormal vessels, 1 vein of Galen aneurysm. Pre-operatively, 12 patients had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and 7 were positive for vascular malformation (1 false positive) with no false negatives. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed pre-operatively in 7 patients, 4 were positive with no false negatives. There were no re-bleeds at the follow-up period. Five (19%) patients died from the haemorrhage, 7 (27%) had severe neurological deficit and 14 (54%) had no neurological deficit. Residual malformation after surgery requiring additional treatment was found in 3 (16%) patients. All patients with confirmed malformations were followed-up with DSA. Conclusion MRI/MRA has high sensitivity and specificity in identifying vascular malformations in children presenting acutely with spontaneous intra-cerebral haemorrhage. This may prove useful when pre-operative DSA is not promptly available. After acute clot evacuation, there is high incidence of residual malformation and such patients should be followed-up with DSA.