Pure Arterial Malformation

In Collaboration with Dr. Eytan Raz

The concept of pure arterial malformation is relatively new (as of 2019). It may or may not hold up as a distinct entity — however morphologically it really seems like one. It is a descriptive term. Refers to tortuous, often mildly fusiformly dilated, often calcified segmental arterial abnormality, without arteriovenous shunt or frank aneurysm. When aneurysms are present, they are less impressive than the underlying parent vessel abnormality. Presentation frequently incidental. On follow up these are stable. Most often seen in the ACA territorry (see ACA dolichoectasia page). In a curious way, CTA is probably the best modality to see these. Usually I prefer modern 3T MRA for noninvasive brain arterial imaging. However, for these, calcifications can be easy to miss without gradient echo, and MRI sometimes is misinterpreted as an AVM.

Here are some examples

Case 1 — chronic headaches, normal exam. MRI reading was suspected AVM — except there are no dilated veins

Calcification on susceptibility imaging

Subtle adjacent cortical dysplasia

Same on coronal T1 post

Typical angio appearance — tortuous, fusiform A2/Pericalossal, without arteriovenous shunting

Stereos

Red/cyan anaglyph stereo

Native stereos, retro style

Anaglyph stereo

Usually the finding is bilateral, as it is here (see unilateral Case 4 below)

Case 2 — young woman with syncope. Normal exam. Typical calcification

Less subtle cortical dysplasia

Angio. Less obvious but real ACA findings

Right side

Case 3

Here is an ICA/PCOM/PCA example. Very rare. May attest to embryoic origin of the PCA as an anterior circulation vessel aka “Caudal Ramus” (see embryology section)

CTA is probably the best modality for these – not how i usually feel, with modern MRA being first choice for most anything. However it is very easy to miss the bulk of finding on MRA, whereas CT shows calcifications and dolichoectasia very nicely.

Here is a CTA of an asymptomatic patient. Notice tram-track calcifications and tortuosity in distal ICA/PCOM/PCA

MRA is rather bland. If anything would suspect occlusive /stenotic disease here

Typical enlarged vessel caliber on T2. Sometimes the bulk of enlargement is a thick, calcified wall, as in this case. Sometimes the lumen is also dilated. Gradient echo sequences are very useful here for picking up calcs

You can see how CTA is probably the single best modality here. MRA could miss this. MRI gives rise to suspicion of AVM or fistula, especially when quality of imaging is inferior

Here is an angio of a different patient with what looks like a PCA malformation