Management of Head and Neck Arteriovenous Malformations - Team work Counts

Purpose: To demonstrate the management protocol in head and neck vascular malformation Methods: This is a retrospective review of 12 patients of arteriovenous malformation managed at a teaching hospital. Medical records were examined for age at first diagnosis, disease course, prior treatments, and age at presentation, management, therapeutic outcomes, impact on quality of life and photograph at time of presentation. Results: Twelve patients with head and neck arteriovenous malformation presented to our centre. There was equal distribution of males and females with an average age of presentation being 24 years (range 13-40 years). Ten patients out of 12 underwent embolization which was followed by surgery. Complete excision was achieved in eight cases while partial resection was achieved in two cases. Three patients had complications while getting treated. Conclusions: Head and neck AVM can be presented as expansile, invasive and locally aggressive lesions which require detailed evaluation and multidisciplinary approach for treatment.