Surgical resection of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation for treatment of superficial siderosis: Case report

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, there are only two reported cases of cerebral arteriovenous malformation associated with superficial siderosis. In both cases, the patients were asymptomatic and were discovered on retrospective review of magnetic resonance imaging. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a case of superficial siderosis in a 47-year-old male with a remote history of closed head injury that presented with progressive hearing loss, cerebellar ataxia, and urinary incontinence. Lumbar puncture was indicative of active subarachnoid bleeding. Cerebral angiography revealed a small vascular malformation that was resected. RESULTS: Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of the arteriovenous malformation. Six months after surgery the patient is neurologically stable with no further progression of clinical signs or symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case of surgical resection of an intracranial arteriovenous malformation for the treatment of superficial siderosis. We emphasize the necessity of a detailed evaluation when superficial siderosis is suspected to localize and resect potential bleeding sources, because the disease is progressive and often irreversible. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc.