Development of a huge varix following endovascular embolization for cerebellar arteriovenous malformation

Abstract

We report on the case of a huge varix that developed after the endovascular embolization of a cerebellar arteriovenous malformation (AVM) with a single drainer. A 21-year-old male presented with trigeminal neuralgia which was caused by the dilated drainer of the AVM. A varix was found at the basal vein of Rosenthal 2 months after an initial stage of embolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles; it diminished after the surgical extirpation of the AVM

The varix formation might have been facilitated by the stenosis in the vein of Galen and by the dynamic changes that followed the embolization

This rare complication should be kept in mind when embolization is performed for AVMs with impaired venous outlets