An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the spinal dura is uncommon but a potentially serious condition.
An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the dura surrounding the spinal cord is one of the 4 types of AVM in the spinal canal.
Complications:
(1) hemorrhage
(2) congestive myelopathy, acute spinal cord syndrome
(3) myelopathy due to vascular steal
(4) spinal cord ischemic necrosis
Congestive myelopathy is associated with a "black butterfly" on T2*-weighted MRI imaging.
Differential diagnosis:
(1) intradural arteriovenous malformations (ventral sulcus, other)
(2) paraspinal arteriovenous malformation
(3) epidural arteriovenous malformation
