AVM stands for “arteriovenous malformation.” It’s a tangle of abnormal blood vessels that connects arteries and veins in the brain or spine, disrupting normal blood flow.
People usually hear the term when a doctor spots an AVM on an MRI or CT scan after someone has headaches, seizures, or a sudden, severe headache from bleeding. In everyday life, you might say, “My cousin found out she has an AVM and is seeing a neurologist next week,” or “The surgeon explained how the AVM could be treated with a procedure called embolization.”
Meaning & Usage Examples
- Medical chart: “Brain MRI shows left frontal AVM, 2 cm.”
- Conversation: “His AVM was small, so the doctor recommended yearly check-ups.”
- News report: “The athlete’s collapse was caused by an undiagnosed spinal AVM.”
Common Context
AVM is mostly used in neurology, radiology, or neurosurgery discussions. Outside hospitals, it pops up when someone shares a health update or Googles sudden headaches and stumbles on “AVM” in search results.
Is an AVM cancer?
No. It’s a cluster of malformed vessels, not a tumor, and it doesn’t spread like cancer.
Can an AVM go away on its own?
Rarely. Most stay the same or grow, so doctors often monitor or treat them to prevent bleeding.
How serious is it?
It depends on size and location. Small, silent ones might need only watchful waiting; large or bleeding ones can be life-threatening and need surgery or radiation.
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