Imaging the spontaneous obliteration of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation using c-arm cone beam computed tomography: A case report

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous occlusion of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) without treatment is a rare occurrence. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report the case of a 56-year-old male who presented with aphasia and right hemiparesis secondary to intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage. Diagnostic digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and c-arm cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) demonstrated a 5 mm Spetzler-Martin Grade III left thalamic AVM drained by the internal cerebral vein. Subsequent DSA and CBCT studies confirmed the spontaneous obliteration of the AVM. CONCLUSIONS: In this case, CBCT provided high resolution imaging of the AVM. Future clinical use of CBCT as an adjunct to DSA may enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic imaging of vascular lesions.