Spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula in 3 cats

J Vet Intern Med. 2022 Sep;36(5):1806-1811. doi: 10.1111/jvim.16523. Epub 2022 Aug 19.

Abstract

Three young adult cats with intermittent spinal hyperesthesia and paraparesis and diagnosed with spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula are described. In all 3 cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed focal dilatation of the veins in the epidural space of the thoracic spinal cord, whereas computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed dilatation and enhancement from the intercostal vein to the azygos vein at the same site in the arterial phase. Dorsal laminectomy and occlusion of the interarcuate branches running across the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord were performed in all 3 cats to decompress the spinal cord, which resulted in a remission of clinical signs and no recurrence during 14 to 40 months of follow-up after surgery in all cases.

Keywords: CT; CT angiography; MRI; spinal arteriovenous malformation; spinal vascular malformation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angiography
  • Animals
  • Arteriovenous Fistula* / diagnostic imaging
  • Arteriovenous Fistula* / surgery
  • Arteriovenous Fistula* / veterinary
  • Epidural Space* / diagnostic imaging
  • Laminectomy / veterinary
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging