What is AVM in the hand?

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) happen when a group of blood vessels in your body forms incorrectly. In these malformations, arteries and veins are unusually tangled and form direct connections, bypassing normal tissues. This usually happens during development before birth or shortly after.

Is AV malformation serious?

Is an AVM a serious health risk? An AVM can cause hemorrhaging (bleeding) both into the brain and around the brain, seizures, headaches and neurological problems such as paralysis or loss of speech, memory or vision. AVMs that bleed can lead to serious neurological problems and sometimes death.

Can arteriovenous malformation be cured?

In most patients, the AVM will be cured in 1-3 years after treatment. Such radiosurgery is most useful for smaller AVMs, but can be used selectively for the treatment of larger AVMs.

Can I drink alcohol with an AVM?

Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol may also raise your blood pressure or thin your blood.

Do all AVMs need treatment?

Treatment for AVM depends on where the abnormality is found, your signs and symptoms and your overall health, and the risk of treatment. Sometimes, an AVM is monitored with regular imaging tests to watch for changes or problems. Other AVMs require treatment.

What is arteriovenous malformations?

Arteriovenous Malformations Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) happen when a group of blood vessels in your body forms incorrectly. In these malformations, arteries and veins are unusually tangled and form direct connections, bypassing normal tissues. This usually happens during development before birth or shortly after.

What is the pathophysiology of vascular malformations of the hand?

Vascular malformations of the hand and wrist are uncommon. They develop from aberrations in angiogenic signaling during vascular development. Unlike hemangiomas, which are characterized by biphasic growth and slow spontaneous involution, vascular malformations continue to grow proportionally with the child.

What are the treatment options for arteriovenous malformations of the hand?

Treatment of arteriovenous malformations involving the hand The symptoms and characteristics of the lesions are important factors in devising a treatment plan for AVMs. AVM treatment, and especially embolo/sclerotherapy, is a long-term prospect, and it carries a potential risk for serious complications.

What is the difference between capillary malformations and AVMs?

AVMs can sometimes be mistaken for capillary malformations (CMs), commonly called “port wine stains”. The difference is that an AVM has fast-flowing blood in the larger blood vessels underneath the skin. The blood vessels in a CM are small and in the top layers of the skin only.