Embolization of intramedullary arteriovenous malformations of the spinal cord.

Intramedullary spinal cord arteriovenous malformation (AVM) can be a devastating disease. It is not usually amenable to surgery without producing severe neurologic deficit. Previously, the risk of cord ischemia was considered a contraindication to therapeutic embolization. Three patients with intramedullary spinal cord AVMs were examined and treated using polyvinyl alcohol foam, mixed with Gelfoam in two cases. In all three cases there was marked improvement, in two to complete normalcy and in the other to near-normalcy. Successful therapy involves the appropriate angiographic mapping, choice of embolus size and composition, and challenge of function by either test occlusion or long perfusion with contrast material.