Pure Sylvian Fissure Arteriovenous Malformation

ABSTRACT

Pure sylvian fissure arteriovenous malformations(AVMs) are vascular malformations confined to the sylvian fissure without parenchymal involvement. Surgical removal is regarded as difficult because the nidus is located just lateral to important structures such as the basal ganglia and the internal capsule. Because most feeding arteries to the nidus are branches of the middle cerebral artery(MCA), differentiation between these feeders from en passant and normal vessels is of great importance in order to reduce morbidity and mortality from surgical intervention. We report a case of pure sylvian fissure AVM who presented with an intra-temporal lobe hematoma that was located around venous aneurysms distant from the nidus. The clinical characteristics of this AVM and the surgical methods employed to avoid complications are discussed.