Endovascular management of pediatric high-flow vertebro-vertebral fistula with reversed basilar artery flow. A case report and review of the literature

Vertebral artery arteriovenous fistula (VAVF) is mostly known as a post-traumatic and/or iatrogenic arteriovenous complication. However, spontaneous high-flow VAVF associated with flow reversal in the basilar artery has not been reported in children. We describe a unique asymptomatic presentation of a spontaneous high-flow VAVF associated with flow reversal in the basilar artery in a pediatric patient. The literature for classification, pathophysiology, treatment strategies, and post-procedural complications is also reviewed.

Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma in association with arteriovenous malformation

Pilocytic astrocytomas are highly vascular, relatively common primary brain tumors in the pediatric population, but their association with a true arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is extremely rare. We describe an eight-year-old girl with a right supratentorial juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (WHO grade I) with an angiographically documented AVM entangled in the tumor mass who presented with intracranial hemorrhage due to a ruptured anterior choroidal artery pseudoaneurysm encased in the lesion. The AVM nidus as well as the hemorrhage site was embolized with Onyx. A literature review revealed only one previous report of a true intermixture of these two lesions. We hypothesize whether the association of vascular malformations and primary brain tumors are merely coincidental or if they point to the existence of a distinct entity and/or a common etiologic factor.