Vascular Malformations of the Brain and Spinal Cord

The neurosurgeons at Houston Methodist diagnose and treat many kinds of brain and spinal vascular malformations. Vascular malformations are rare abnormalities in the blood vessels and their membranes. They are also referred to as cerebral vascular malformations, intracranial vascular malformations and occult intracranial vascular malformations.

Vascular malformations is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect blood vessels to the brain. They are separated into different subtypes with various symptoms, severity and causes:

• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) — abnormal veins and arteries
• Cavernous malformations — enlarged blood-filled spaces
• Venous angiomas — a small tangle of abnormal veins
• Talangiectasias — enlarged capillary-sized blood vessels that arise on the surface of the skin
• Vein of Galen malformations — the most common type of AVM in infants, it affects the large, deep vein at the base of the brain, also known as the “great cerebral vein,” which is one of the large veins that returns blood from the brain to the heart
• Mixed malformations — a fairly common congenital (from birth) malformation that usually includes both abnormally developed veins and cavernous malformation

The world-renowned neurosurgeons and endovascular neurosurgeons at Houston Methodist treat many kinds of brain and spinal vascular malformations:

• Moyamoya disease — tangle of tiny blood vessels that form at the base of the brain to compensate for blocked arteries
• Cavernous malformations of the brain and spinal cord — a tangle of abnormal blood vessels with thin walls that are more susceptible to breaking
• Cranial and spinal dural fistulas — abnormal connections or channels between arteries and veins
• Carotid cavernous fistulas — abnormal communication (channel) between carotid arteries and the cavernous sinus
• Head, neck and facial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) — abnormal tangles of blood vessels in the brain

Although not vascular malformations from birth or injury like the conditions above, neurosurgeons at Houston Methodist also treat other, more common cerebrovascular conditions that occur over time:

• Carotid atherosclerotic disease — plaque buildup in the carotid arteries that supply fresh blood to the brain
• Intracranial atherosclerotic disease — plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the brain