Vascular Disorders of the Brain

What Are Common Vascular Disorders of the Brain?

Vascular disorders of the brain are a variety of abnormalities of the brain’s blood vessels.  Commonly diagnosed disorders include:
 
Moya-Moya Disease
A rare vascular disorder that leads to narrowing of the blood vessels to the brain that causes a reduction in blood flow.  This potentially leads to strokes and other neurological deficits.
 
Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
An AVM is a congenital tangle of blood vessels that interrupts the normal blood flow in the brain.  AVMS can produce seizures, strokes and neurological deficits. Rupture of an AVM can lead to serious brain hemorrhage.
 
Aneurysm
Aneurysm is a balloon-like swelling of the wall of a blood vessel that may have a strong potential to burst, causing neurologic deficits.  Aneurysms are more common in adults than children. One of the types that may be seen in children is called Fusifoin Aneurysms.
 
Fistula
Fistulas are abnormal passage between an artery and vein which causes the disruption of the normal blood flow pattern.  There are two types of fistulas:

• Congenital - formed during fetal development.  One of the most common types of congenital fistulas in children is the Vein of Galen malformation which is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins of the brain.  Vein of Galen can be associated with heart failure, hydrocephalus and abnormal blood flow to the brain.
  
  
• Acquired - develops after a child is born. This type usually occurs when an artery and vein that are side-by-side are damaged and the healing process results in the linkage of the two.

How Are Vascular Disorders of the Brain Diagnosed and Treated at LPCH?

A well established team of medical specialists and surgeons at LPCH, under the guidance of pediatric neurosurgery, makes the diagnosis and develops a treatment plan based on each patient’s needs.  The team includes leading vascular specialists such as Dr. Gary Steinberg who is nationally know for his techniques with vascular disorders and interventional radiologists Dr. Huy Do and Dr. Michael Marks.

In some cases surgery can be avoided for our pediatric patients with the use of neuroradiology techniques or focused radiation otherwise known as radiosurgery.
 
Please call the Pediatric Neurosurgery Clinic at (650) 724-4270 or the Pediatric Neurosurgery Professional Office at (650) 497-8775 if you would like additional information or to schedule an appointment.