Congenital Abnormality
arteriovenous malformation
Subclass of:
Vascular Diseases;
Vascular anomaly
Also called:
AVM
Definitions related to congenital arteriovenous malformation:
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(arteriovenous malformation) Abnormal connections between veins and arteries, usually caused by a birth defect.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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(arteriovenous malformation) An anomalous configuration of blood vessels that shunts arterial blood directly into veins without passing through the capillaries.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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(arteriovenous malformations) Abnormal formation of blood vessels that shunt arterial blood directly into veins without passing through the CAPILLARIES. They usually are crooked, dilated, and with thick vessel walls. A common type is the congenital arteriovenous fistula. The lack of blood flow and oxygen in the capillaries can lead to tissue damage in the affected areas.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(arteriovenous malformations) Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are defects in your vascular system. Your vascular system is your body's network of blood vessels. It includes your Arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your tissues and organs; Veins, which carry the blood and waste products back to your heart; Capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels that connect your small arteries to your small veins. An AVM is a snarled tangle of arteries and veins. They are connected to each other, with no capillaries. That interferes with the blood circulation in an organ. AVMs can happen anywhere, but they are more common in the brain or spinal cord. Most people with brain or spinal cord AVMs have few, if any, major symptoms. Sometimes they can cause seizures or headaches. AVMs are rare. The cause of AVMs is unknown, but they seem to develop during pregnancy or soon after birth. Doctors use imaging tests to detect them. Medicines can help with the symptoms from AVMs. The greatest danger is hemorrhage. Treatment for AVMs can include surgery or focused radiation therapy. Because surgery can be risky, you and your doctor need to make a decision carefully. NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital lesions composed of a complex tangle of arteries and veins connected by one or more fistulae (see the image below). They most commonly occur in young adults, with morbidity and death occurring in 30-50% and 10-15% of patients, respectively.WebMD, 2019
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An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, which disrupts normal blood flow and oxygen circulation.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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