Arteriovenous Malformation

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When your blood vessels get all tangled up, it can cause a whole mess of problems.

That tangled jumble is called an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and it’s a very rare condition you’re born with (congenital). It can happen anywhere in your body, but mostly in your brain, brainstem or spinal cord. The blood vessels twist and turn and end up looking kind of like a bird’s nest. And those tangles keep the blood from flowing through your brain like it should.

Many AVM’s don’t cause symptoms, so they’re often found during an imaging test for something else — like a brain injury, vision problems or headaches. Cleveland Clinic’s highly trained specialists diagnose and treat AVMs with the latest, most advanced technology to prevent serious complications.

Why choose Cleveland Clinic for Arteriovenous Malformation Care?

Skilled, collaborative providers:

Our specialized care team includes endovascular neurosurgeons, interventional neurologists and interventional neuroradiologists. The board-certified and fellowship-trained cerebrovascular specialists at Cleveland Clinic treat AVM with care plans tailored to your specific needs. Meet our team.

Specialized equipment:

We use advanced technology like 7-Tesla (7T) MRI, high resolution angiography with 4D resolution, and 3D printing to create detailed views and models of your brain’s vascular system. These detailed pictures help us personalize your treatment plan.

Personalized care:

Your treatment begins with a conversation. Our specialists get to know you and talk through all your options when creating a care plan that matches your needs. Our relationship with you is at the core of AVM treatment.

Virtual visits:

Making care convenient whenever possible is important to us. Sometimes we’re able to meet with you online so you don’t have to come in to see us in person. Virtual visits let you get the same great care, but from the comfort of home. All you need is an internet connection, a smartphone, tablet or computer.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Arteriovenous Malformation Diagnosis at Cleveland Clinic

Most of the time, arteriovenous malformations don’t cause symptoms. Your healthcare provider may find an AVM during an imaging test for another condition, like a traumatic brain injury, headaches or seizures. If you have an AVM, it’s very important to get treated right away because if the AVM ruptures (bursts), it can cause a brain bleed (hemorrhage). When this happens, it can cause serious problems with your nervous system — even paralysis or coma.

Our specialists may recommend these tests to tell us the exact size and location of the AVM:

Providers Who Treat Arteriovenous Malformation

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and London.

AVM Treatment at Cleveland Clinic

Our experts use different therapies to treat arteriovenous malformation. Brain surgery (craniotomy) and gamma knife radiosurgery can cure AVM, but some complex arteriovenous malformations must be shrunk prior to surgery. Based on your specific needs, we might recommend a combination of treatments, such as:

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for AVM

Our neurosurgeons use a sophisticated radiation treatment called Gamma Knife^® surgery to help stop blood flow to the AVM. Using high-energy light particles, our experts target the problem blood vessels in the brain while sparing healthy vessels and tissue. The radiation causes the AVM to slowly shrink, scar or dissolve to make it easier to take out with surgery.

Surgery for AVM

Sometimes surgery is what’s needed to get rid of the AVM. If so, Cleveland Clinic neurosurgeons will do a craniotomy. They remove a piece of your skull to get to the problem blood vessels and remove and eliminate them. Then they redirect blood flow to the healthy vessels before closing your skull.

Embolization for AVM

We use a minimally invasive endovascular technique known as embolization to help treat some arteriovenous malformations. Our experts insert a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into the small blood vessels that feed the AVM. We inject a glue-like substance to prevent blood from reaching the area and reduce the size of the AVM.

You may need several rounds of embolization to treat the AVM. You may also have embolization before brain surgery to make the AVM smaller.

Emergency Treatment for Arteriovenous Malformation

The cerebrovascular experts at Cleveland Clinic treat ruptured and bleeding arteriovenous malformations precisely and quickly to give you the best chance of recovery. Our stroke rehabilitation services help you recover lost function so you can stay independent.

Taking the Next Step

AVMs are nothing to fool around with. If you find out you have one, it’s important to get treated as soon as possible to avoid a more serious condition. Cleveland Clinic neurologists and neurosurgeons are highly skilled in diagnosing and treating AVMs. You can rely on them to give you the best possible chance for an excellent outcome.