A case of infant dural arteriovenous malformation

Dural arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in childhood is a very rare clinical entity. We report a case of dural AVM in a 4-year-old female who had a tumor in the right posterior auricular region as the initial symptom. The tumor, 5 cm in diameter, was not associated with any blow or any other neurological findings. The neuroradiological examination revealed a small radiolucent area in the right parietooccipital region on the skull X-rays, while the CT scan showed an osteoplastic area as a high-density mass. The angiography demonstrated a dural AVM with a nidus 2.5 x 3 cm in size, fed by the right occipital artery and the posterior branch of the right middle meningeal artery. A right external carotid artery ligation was performed; consequently, the tumor pulsation disappeared. The natural history of dural AVM in childhood is not well known. The clinical pictures and operative methods of this case were discussed. (author)