At Orange County CyberKnife, we are committed to helping patients overcome AVM cancer through our selection of world-class radiation therapy which utilizes some of the most advanced medical systems on the market today. Our expert team is made up of skilled doctors, radiation oncologists, and cancer fighting specialists, all who take a personalized approach to caring for our patients, no matter what condition they’re facing. From various types of cancer to arteriovenous malformation cancer, our treatments have restored hope and healing for countless patients across Orange County and beyond.
Arteriovenous malformations occur when different blood vessels intermingle and become tangled, forming irregular, unhealthy connections between arteries and veins. Arteries and veins perform two similar, but very distinct, functions: arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to the cells, while veins carry oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs. Normally, blood passes from an artery through a system of capillaries – tiny, microscopic vessels where oxygen is transmitted from blood cells to tissue – then out of the capillaries into a vein. In an AVM, the capillary system is compromised, forming direct connections between an artery and a vein. If the AVM is large enough, it can rob surrounding tissue of oxygen, eventually leading to tissue damage, the death of nerve cells, and potentially more serious consequences.
Scientists aren’t sure why AVMs form, but most evidence points to congenital factors. While AVMs can develop anywhere in the body, they are most common in the brain and the spinal cord. Although many start small and relatively inconsequential, they can expand in size over time, eventually causing serious problems for the patient.
Symptoms of an AVM can be extremely diverse, and are dependent on where the AVM forms and how large it grows. While some AVMs produce only minor irritation, in some cases they can be life threatening. Seizures and headaches are two of the most common symptoms of AVMs occuring in the brain.
Seizures caused by AVMs may affect only a specific part of the brain (focal) or they may affect the entire brain (widespread), potentially causing the person to lose control of their body and experience convulsions. Headaches may be mild or as severe as a migraine, with no clear pattern in frequency, length, or intensity.
Other AVM symptoms include:
Neurological AVMs refer to malformations that form in the brain or the spinal cord. These AVMs are particularly problematic, as they’re the most likely to impair motor function, cause seizures and headaches, and create other debilitating side effects.
Neurological AVMs may prevent the brain from getting enough oxygen. They may compress or displace parts of the brain or spinal cord, or cause bleeding in these areas. Neurological AVMs may form anywhere in the brain or spinal cord where arteries and veins are present, causing a number of varying problems depending on their location. They may also form in the tissues of the brain, or in the surrounding membranes.
When formed in the spinal cord, AVMs may cause a number of symptoms including severe, sudden back pain similar to pain of a slipped disk. Other symptoms can include problems with any of the five the senses, weak muscles, or even paralysis in certain areas of the body. This is because an AVM in the spinal cord can cause the nerve fibers below it to degrade and eventually die. This impedes communication with those parts of the body controlled by the nerve fibers, and can even lead to paralysis of the entire area.
AVMs may form at various locations in the brain, and their symptoms will differ based on where they form.
Those that form in the outermost parts of the brain can push on it, potentially causing headaches and other problems. Motor function, language, sensory input, vision, or thinking can all be impaired by AVMs in the brain.
If an AVM forms deep in the cerebrum, it may cause even more severe problems in movement, learning, or memory. If it forms in the hindbrain, which is responsible for basic vital functions, balance, and many movements, it may cause a variety of problems. Potential symptoms include giddiness, dizziness, vomiting, loss of coordination, or muscle tremors.
While some AVMs are mild enough to be virtually undetectable, others may cause severe, debilitating, or life-threatening consequences. The most severe complication an AVM can cause is a hemorrhage, where the AVM begins to bleed into surrounding tissue. Often, such episodes of bleeding go undetected because they are not severe enough to seriously damage the brain, but if the hemorrhage is large enough, it may be fatal. A number of factors affect the risk of hemorrhage from an AVM:
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with an AVM or a cancerous condition, we understand how discouraged and frightened you may be feeling. That’s why our dedicated team here at Orange County Cyberknife is committed to providing compassionate service along with world-class treatment to help you live a normal and healthy life. If you have any questions regarding about arteriovenous malformation cancer or your treatment options, give us a call today at 714.962.7100, or reach out to us at our contact page to schedule an appointment. We can’t wait to help you reclaim total health and live the life you deserve!
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal, snarled tangles of blood vessels that cause multiple irregular connections between the arteries and veins. While they are most common in the spinal cord and the brain, they can develop elsewhere in the body. It is unclear why AVMs form. Most often they are inherited, but they can sometimes appear sporadically. ATMs can cause seizures and severe headaches as well as muscle weakness, paralysis, dizziness, vision loss, back pain, confusion, and more. Most dangerously, AVMs can cause significant neurological damage and brain hemorrhaging. Orange County CyberKnife and Radiation Oncology Center offers the most comprehensive array of radiation treatments in Southern California including the CyberKnife Radiosurgery System, an effective treatment for AVMs.
There are several treatment options for patients with AVM, but each involves various dangers depending on the individual. A hemorrhage from an untreated AVM can cause serious neurological damage or death, leading many specialists to recommend surgery. However, surgery on any part of the central nervous system carries risk of serious complications or death. An AVM grading system developed in the mid-80s can help healthcare professionals estimate the risk of surgery based on the size of the AVM, location in the brain and surrounding tissue involvement, and any leakage. Treatment options include:
If you want to learn more about the CyberKnife Radiosurgery System at Orange County CyberKnife and how it can treat your AVM, reach out to our medical oncology experts by phone at (714) 962-7100 or by completing our convenient online appointment form. Our cancer specialists are ready to answer all of your questions in detail and your first phone consultation is free. You can trust the specialists at Orange County to provide individualized treatment for your AVM. Call today.
All blood vessel malformations involving the brain and its surrounding structures are commonly referred to as AVMs. But several types exist:
Physicians do not categorize states of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) as it is not a progressive disease. The condition is congenital – occurring at birth – and continues through life unless treated. In many cases, symptoms never appear and the person leads a normal life unaware of the condition. However, an AVM can grow, creating pressure on surrounding areas of the brain, leading to headaches, dizziness and confusion. In addition, the AVM can reach a stage of development where it may burst.
At Orange County Cyberknife, we understand that being diagnosed with any cancer-related condition can be one of life’s most frightening experiences. That’s why our team of doctors is committed to walking alongside you on every step of your journey. As a leading radiation oncology clinic serving the Orange County, CA area, we provide revolutionary cancer and AVM treatment from our state-of-the-art center in Orange County. If you’ve been diagnosed with arteriovenous malformations (AVM), we offer several effective treatment options, including CyberKnife and AVM surgery, all utilizing world-class medical technology to provide you with the best possible outcome. Your AVM treatment will be tailored to your unique case to ensure that it fits your needs and lifestyle.
We understand the importance of our patients being as educated as possible about their situation and options, so we’ve compiled some of the most common question and answers about AVMs below. We encourage you to read through the information to gain a better understanding of AVMs and how they can be treated. And, for further information, we welcome you to visit our What Is AVM page, AVM Treatment Options page, or our AVM Types & Stages page to learn more.
As always, if you have any questions regarding AVM surgery, AVM treatment, or our practice, contact us today, and our experts will be glad to assist you. We look forward to helping you live a happy and healthy life!
Brain AVMs occur in less than 1 percent of the general population. It’s estimated that about one in 200–500 people may have an AVM. AVMs are more common in males than in females.
We don’t know why AVMs occur. Brain AVMs are usually congenital, meaning someone is born with one. But they’re usually not hereditary. People probably don’t inherit an AVM from their parents, and they probably won’t pass one on
to their children.
Brain AVMs can occur anywhere within the brain or on its covering. This includes the four major lobes of the front part of the brain (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital), the back part of the brain (cerebellum), the brainstem, or the ventricles (deep spaces within the brain that produce and circulate the cerebrospinal fluid).
Most AVMs don’t grow or change much, although the vessels involved may dilate (widen). Some AVMs may shrink due to clots in part of the AVM. Some may enlarge to redirect blood in adjacent vessels toward an AVM.
A brain AVM contains abnormal and, therefore, “weakened” blood vessels that direct blood away from normal brain tissue. These abnormal and weak blood vessels dilate over time. Eventually they may burst from the high pressure of blood flow from the arteries, causing bleeding into the brain.
The chance of a brain AVM bleeding is 1 percent to 3 percent per year. Over 15 years, the total chance of an AVM bleeding into the brain — causing brain damage and stroke — is 25 percent.
The risk of recurrent intracranial bleeding is slightly higher for a short time after the first bleed. In two studies, the risk during the first year after initial bleeding was 6 percent and then dropped to the baseline rate. In another study, the risk of recurrence during the first year was 17.9 percent. The risk of recurrent bleeding may be even higher in the first year after the second bleed and has been reported to be 25 percent during that year. People who are between 11 to 35 years old and who have an AVM are at a slightly higher risk of bleeding.
The risk of death related to each bleed is 10 percent to 15 percent. The chance of permanent brain damage is 20 percent to 30 percent. Each time blood leaks into the brain, normal brain tissue is damaged. This results in loss of normal function, which may be temporary or permanent. Some possible symptoms include arm or leg weakness/paralysis, or difficulty with speech, vision or memory. The amount of brain damage depends on how much blood has leaked from the AVM.