Spontaneous Thrombosis of a DVA with Subsequent Intracranial Hemorrhage

Intracerebral Hemorrhage Caused by Thrombosis of a Developmental Venous Anomaly with an Unusual Structure: A Case Report

Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are common intracranial vascular malformations and they are generally do not cause clinical complications. In cases showing DVA and hemorrhage, the hemorrhage is usually associated with adjacent cavernous malformations. Very few cases of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) caused by thrombosis in DVA have been reported in the literature. In this case report, we present an interesting case of a large ICH caused by thrombosis within a DVA with an unusual structure that may have potentiated the thrombosis.

Paediatric presentation of intracranial haemorrhage due to thrombosis of a developmental venous anomaly

Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are the most commonly encountered cerebral malformations. While generally asymptomatic and discovered as incidental findings, there is a small number that can cause intracranial haemorrhage, usually attributed to associated cavernomas; however, venous thrombosis of the draining vein is a rare cause. A 10-year-old woman presented with seizure episodes. Angiographic evaluation revealed a collection of vessels draining into the superior sagittal sinus via the vein of Trolard, concerning for a DVA. The patient improved clinically with supportive care and antiepileptic treatment. Anatomically, DVAs represent dysplasia of primary capillary beds and smaller cerebral veins, resulting in abnormal venous drainage of the affected parenchyma. Several distinguishing radiological findings can help differentiate a DVA from other pathologies. Early radiological identification can help in the initiation of appropriate therapy and prevent incorrect surgical management leading to further neurological demise.

Brain parenchymal signal abnormalities associated with developmental venous anomalies in children and young adults

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Abnormal signal in the drainage territory of developmental venous anomalies has been well described in adults but has been incompletely investigated in children. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of brain parenchymal abnormalities subjacent to developmental venous anomalies in children and young adults, correlating with subject age and developmental venous anomaly morphology and location.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred eighty-five patients with developmental venous anomalies identified on brain MR imaging with contrast, performed from November 2008 through November 2012, composed the study group. Data were collected for the following explanatory variables: subject demographics, developmental venous anomaly location, morphology, and associated parenchymal abnormalities. Associations between these variables and the presence of parenchymal signal abnormalities (response variable) were then determined.

RESULTS

Of the 285 subjects identified, 172 met inclusion criteria, and among these subjects, 193 developmental venous anomalies were identified. Twenty-six (13.5%) of the 193 developmental venous anomalies had associated signal-intensity abnormalities in their drainage territory. After excluding developmental venous anomalies with coexisting cavernous malformations, we obtained an adjusted prevalence of 21/181 (11.6%) for associated signal-intensity abnormalities in developmental venous anomalies. Signal-intensity abnormalities were independently associated with younger subject age, cavernous malformations, parenchymal atrophy, and deep venous drainage of developmental venous anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS

Signal-intensity abnormalities detectable by standard clinical MR images were identified in 11.6% of consecutively identified developmental venous anomalies. Signal abnormalities are more common in developmental venous anomalies with deep venous drainage, associated cavernous malformation and parenchymal atrophy, and younger subject age. The pathophysiology of these signal-intensity abnormalities remains unclear but may represent effects of delayed myelination and/or alterations in venous flow within the developmental venous anomaly drainage territory.