Spinal Vascular Shunts: A Patterned Approach

Abstract

SUMMARY: Spinal vascular shunts, including fistulas and malformations, are rare and complex vascular lesions for which multiple classification schemes have been proposed. The most widely adopted scheme consists of 4 types: type I, dural AVFs; type II, intramedullary glomus AVMs; type III, juvenile/metameric AVMs; and type IV, intradural perimedullary AVFs. MR imaging and angiography techniques permit detailed assessment of spinal arteriovenous shunts, though DSA is the criterion standard for delineating vascular anatomy and treatment planning. Diagnosis is almost exclusively based on imaging, and features often mimic more common pathologies. The radiologist’s recognition of spinal vascular shunts may improve outcomes because patients may benefit from early intervention.

ABBREVIATIONS:

ASA: anterior spinal artery
CS: classification scheme
IPAVF: intradural perimedullary arteriovenous fistula
PSA: posterior spinal artery
SDAVF: spinal dural arteriovenous fistula
SGAVM: spinal “glomus” arteriovenous malformation
SJAVM: spinal juvenile (metameric) arteriovenous malformation
SVS: spinal vascular shunt

Spinal vascular shunts (SVSs) including arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and malformations (AVMs) are rare lesions accounting for 3%–4% of intradural spinal lesions.^1⇓⇓-4 The SVS presents a challenge from both an imaging and management perspective. Since the first SVS classification scheme (CS) was proposed in 1971 by Di Chiro et al,⁵ physicians from various specialties have proposed CSs on the basis of anatomy and/or management considerations typically relevant to the authors’ fields of expertise.^{5⇓⇓⇓⇓-10} The current, most widely referenced CS is derived from the works of multiple authors.^5⇓⇓-8 This article offers a review of the commonly referenced historic classification schemes, clinical symptomology, imaging findings, differential diagnoses, and management considerations.

Normal Spinal Vascular Anatomy

The cord is supplied by intramedullary sulcal branches of the anterior spinal artery (ASA) and radial perforators from the pial-based vasacorona (Fig 1).¹¹ The ASA and paired posterior spinal arteries (PSAs) originate from the intradural vertebral arteries and sometimes the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries. The ASA, PSA, and vasocorona receive collateral flow from approximately 7 or 8 medullary arteries, which share a common origin with the radicular and dural arteries supplying the nerve roots and dural sleeves. These radiculomedullary arteries arise from ventral spinal branches of segmental arteries. The well-known radiculomedullaris magna artery of Adamkiewicz provides collateral flow to the thoracolumbar cord, typically arising on the left between T9 and T12.²

FIG 1.

A, Normal arterial anatomy: 1, intramedullary branches; 2, sulcal artery; 3, anterior spinal artery; 4, radial perforators; 5, pial arterial plexus; 6, posterior spinal arteries; 7, segmental artery; 8, spinal artery; 9, dorsal branch of the dorsospinal artery; 10, ventral branch of dorsospinal artery; 11, ventral epidural plexus; 12, dorsal epidural plexus; 13, dural artery; 14, radicular artery; 15, ventral radicular artery; 16, dorsal radicular artery; 17, medullary artery. B, Normal venous anatomy: 1, Intramedullary veins; 2, sulcal vein; 3, radial veins; 4, pial venous plexus; 5, anterior spinal vein; 6, posterior spinal veins; 7, medullary vein; 8, ventral radicular vein; 9, dorsal radicular vein; 10, emissary vein; 11, intervertebral vein; 12, branches from ventral epidural venous plexus; 13, branches from dorsal epidural venous plexus.

Normal spinal venous anatomy grossly mirrors that of the arterial counterpart, with single anterior and dual posterior spinal veins coursing through a pial surface plexus. Medullary and radicular veins drain via transdural emissaries to intervertebral, longitudinal efferent, and other level-specific venous channels.⁴

Historical Classification Schemes

Various proposed SVS CSs have been historically based on anatomic, management, prognostic, or other considerations relevant to the authors’ fields of expertise (Table 1).^5,9 Modified versions of earlier SVS CSs have also challenged the scope of included lesions and/or degrees of subclassification.^6⇓-8,10 Although no proposal has been universally adopted, the recent emergence of a composite CS appears to seek a compromise.^{3,12⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓-19} At the time of this publication, the most widely referenced CS reflects the contributions of multiple authors, beginning with types I–III of Di Chiro et al⁵ based on angiographic morphology (1971). The proposed type IV AVF addition of Heros et al⁶ (1986); the further subclassification by Gueguen et al,⁷ of type IV into 3 subtypes based on size and number of arterial feeders; and the proposed subdivision by Spetzler et al⁸ of type I AVF into subtypes A (single arterial feeder) and B (multiple feeders).

View this table:

Table 1:

Historical spinal vascular shunt classification schemes

View this table:

Table 2:

Imaging findings of spinal vascular shunts types I–IV

Type I: Spinal Dural AVF.

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVFs) account for 70% of all SVSs (Fig 2A).^3,12 Approximately 80% of SDAVFs are found along the dorsal lower thoracic cord surface between levels T6 and L2.^6,8,13 Anatomically, an SDAVF is an anomalous intradural communication between a dural artery and radicular vein within the intervertebral foramen without an intervening capillary network. Drainage is typically retrograde via a medullary vein and the pial venous network.^13,20,21 SDAVFs are slow-flow lesions, mostly acquired, possibly related to chronic fibrosis and/or venous thrombosis.^1,18 Arterial flow is transferred to engorged venous collaterals, producing the angiographic “single coiled vessel” appearance.⁵

FIG 2.

A, Type I spinal dural AVF: 1, Intercostal artery; 2, spinal artery; 3, dorsal/muscular branch; 4, radicular artery, ventral branch; 5, radicular artery, dorsal branch; 6, radicular vein; 7, engorged perimedullary vein; 8, dural AVF. B, Type II spinal glomus AVM: 1, anterior spinal artery; 2, feeding arterial branch; 3, intramedullary glomus/nidus; 4, draining branch to pial venous network; 5, posterior spinal veins; 6, pial venous network. C, Type III spinal juvenile/metameric AVM: 1, normal cord tissue within the nidal interstices; 2, intramedullary elements of AVM; 3, extramedullary elements of AVM. D, Type IV IPAVF: 1, anterior spinal artery; 2, fistula; 3, multiple dilated perimedullary veins; 4, multiple contributing arterial feeders; 5, medullary artery; 6, ventral and dorsal radicular arteries.

Type II: Spinal Glomus AVM.

Type II spinal “glomus” arteriovenous malformations (SGAVMs) account for 19%–45% of all SVSs. SGAVMs are congenital, high-flow lesions that may be thoracic (51%), cervical (29%), or lumbar/conus (20%) (Fig 2B).^1,12,17,22 From a morphologic perspective, Di Chiro et al⁵ distinguished SGAVMs from SDAVFs by the presence of a “localized vascular plexus confined to a short cord segment.” This intramedullary and/or pial-based nidus of abnormal vascular channels may be supplied by ≥1 branch of the ASA, PSA, vertebral arteries, dural arteries, and/or vasocorona.²³

Type III: Spinal Juvenile AVM.

Type III spinal juvenile (metameric) arteriovenous malformations (SJAVMs) are the least common^3,12 type of SVS, with estimated frequencies between 5.4% and 9%. Most cases involve the thoracic spine, followed by the cervical spine (Fig 2C).^16,24

These voluminous,⁵ high-flow lesions are sometimes characterized as possessing normal cord tissue within their interstices.^2,25,26 Besides the cord, these lesions may involve the bony spine, paraspinal tissues, and skin, sharing a common metameric tissue origin.^3,27

Type IV: Intradural Perimedullary AVF.

The intradural perimedullary AVF (IPAVF) was first described by Djindjian et al,²⁸ in 1977, and later proposed as a type IV⁶ addition to the 1971 CS of Di Chiro et al⁵ (Fig 2D). IPAVF prevalence is approximately 8%–19% of SVSs.¹⁴ The IPAVFs are pial-based lesions supplied by the ASA and/or PSA, sometimes with a small intervening nidus. In 1987, Gueguen et al⁷ proposed IPAVF types I–III according to the size and number of arterial feeders, now frequently referenced as subtypes IVa, IVb, and IVc.

However, this morphologically based SVS CS is limited in scope because some SVSs remain outside their descriptive criteria. Recent proposals to address this limitation include a location-based CS consisting of 6 lesion types proposed by Zozulya et al⁹ and a type V extradural AVF proposed by Takai.¹⁰

Clinical Symptomology

Type I: Spinal Dural AVF.

The typical presentation is an older (range, 55–60 years of age) man (male/female ratio = 5:1)¹³ with a history of nonspecific progressive myelopathic symptoms. The clinical picture is sometimes referred to as Foix-Alajouanine syndrome.^4,29 Symptoms are related to cord edema and ischemia resulting from arterialized intravenous pressure competing with cord drainage, though venous thrombosis has also been described.^30⇓-32

Type II: Spinal Glomus AVM.

Patients are typically in their second-to-fourth decades of life (mean age, 28 years) without sex predilection.^11,23 Approximately 50%–75% of patients present with acute or subacute symptoms related to subarachnoid hemorrhage or, less commonly, venous thrombosis.^23,27

Type III: Spinal Juvenile AVM.

Although the low frequency of SJAVMs limits available data, the typical presentation age is younger than 15 years, with a slight male predominance (male/female ratio = 1.7:1).^12,16,26 As reported in a 2014 meta-analysis of 51 cases of SJAVM,¹⁶ the most common presentation was a progressive neurologic deficit in 35%, followed closely by acute hemorrhage (31%) and an acute neurologic deficit without hemorrhage (22%). Twelve percent of cases were incidental discoveries. Cobb syndrome refers to the clinical manifestations of SJAVM involving all tissues of the involved metamere.³³

Type IV: Intradural Perimedullary AVF.

Although the clinical presentation of IPAVF varies with subtype, approximately 93% of patients present with neurologic deficits, among which 29% are acute, typically resulting from subarachnoid hemorrhage.^15,22 A 2013 meta-analysis¹⁵ consisting of 213 cases found subtype IVa to be more common in males (male/female ratio = 1.4:1), with a mean age of 46.9 years. Mean ages for subtypes IVb and IVc were 34.3 and 18.7 years, both without sex predilection.

Syndromic associations with IPAVFs have been reported, including Osler-Weber-Rendu, Proteus, Klippel-Trenaunay, and Down syndromes.^{3,6,15,22,34⇓⇓-37}

Imaging Findings

Type I: Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula.

T2-weighted MR imaging depicts serpiginous perimedullary flow voids, typically overlying the dorsal cord and conus, without an intramedullary nidus (Fig 3 and Table 2). Secondary congestive myelopathy is also best-depicted on routine T2-weighted TSE and STIR imaging as nonspecific, hyperintense signal within an expanded cord.^38,39 Contrast-enhanced T1 fat-suppression MR imaging or CT may show cord enhancement related to chronic venous congestion and compromise of the blood−spinal cord barrier.⁴⁰ The presence of a thin T2 hypointense rim may be more specific to SDAVFs, possibly due to the presence of deoxyhemoglobin within dilated peripheral capillaries of the distended cord.^14,39⇓-41

FIG 3.

A 79-year-old man with a type I spinal dural AVF. A, Sagittal T2 MR imaging of the thoracic spine shows extensive intramedullary edema as signal hyperintensity (white arrow) throughout the cord. The thin peripheral hypointense rim (yellow rectangle) may reflect deoxyhemoglobin within dilated peripheral capillaries. Serpiginous perimedullary flow voids (blue arrow) are most conspicuous along the dorsal aspect of the thoracic cord. B, Frontal view DSA injection of the left L3 segmental artery (white arrow) shows early filling of an ectatic spinal vein (black arrow).

First-pass MRA may depict the involved dural artery communicating with a prominent arterial network along the dural root sleeve at the level of the fistula, with a prominent early filling radicular vein. Multiphase time-resolved MRA depicts progressive enhancement through the same vascular structures and may increase the rate of successful SDAVF localization.⁴²

Selective DSA injection of the involved segmental artery shows shunted contrast advancing through the fistulous connection with retrograde reflux into a dilated radicular vein and perimedullary venous network.^38,39

Type II: Spinal Glomus AVM.

The eccentric (not centered) nidus of a SGAVM shows variable enhancement and may be partially or completely intramedullary (Fig 4 and Table 2).^14,43 Surrounding T2-hyperintensity with regional cord expansion may represent edema, gliosis, and/or ischemia.^11,26 Subarachnoid or intramedullary signal loss on gradient MR imaging may reflect hemorrhage.²⁶ The presence of prominent radicular venous outflow depicted as intra- and perimedullary flow voids on T2-weighted MR imaging is variable.⁴⁴

FIG 4.

A 45-year-old man with a type II spinal glomus AVM. A, Sagittal T2 MR imaging of the cervical spine shows serpiginous intramedullary and perimedullary flow voids (white arrow), with adjacent cord hyperintensity (blue arrow). B, Frontal view DSA injection of the right vertebral artery (red arrow) shows opacification of a feeding arterial branch (black arrow) and nidal elements (dashed outline). C, Lateral view DSA shows early filling of ectatic perimedullary veins (blue arrow).

Selective DSA injections typically show ≥1 feeding branch originating from the ASA, PSA, or vertebral arteries directed toward the intramedullary nidus. Intranidal aneurysms may opacify in up to one-third of cases. Drainage is typically via veins of the coronal and epidural venous plexuses, which may or may not be engorged.⁴⁴

Type III: Metameric Spinal AVM.

T2-weighted imaging depicts extensive ectatic intramedullary flow voids with variable involvement of the subarachnoid and epidural spaces, as well as surrounding spinal elements and extraspinal tissues in a metameric distribution (Fig 5 and Table 2).⁴⁵ Parenchymal cord tissue may be visible within the interstices of the nidus.^2,25,26 Cord compression from the markedly dilated extramedullary vascular architecture is also best-depicted on MR imaging.¹⁴

FIG 5.

A 14-year-old girl with a type III spinal juvenile/metameric AVM. A, Sagittal T2 MR imaging of the lumbar spine shows numerous ectatic perimedullary and intramedullary flow voids (blue/white arrow). B, Frontal view DSA injection of the right L2 lumbar artery shows opacification of a prominent anterior spinal artery (red arrow), intramedullary and extramedullary nidal elements (black arrow), and early filing of an ectatic perimedullary vein (blue arrow).

Volume-rendered surface reconstructions from CTA source data permit further assessment of soft-tissue involvement, particularly with regard to the bony spinal elements, and are useful for surgical planning.⁴⁵

Numerous ectactic high-flow intra- and extramedullary shunts are typically present with extremely rapid antegrade drainage via the often-dilated perimedullary and epidural venous pathways.⁴⁵

Type IV: Intradural Perimedullary AVF.

T2-weighted MR imaging demonstrates prominent perimedullary flow voids typically along the ventral cord surface, in contrast to SDAVFs, which are typically dorsal (Fig 6 and Table 2). Depending on the degree of arterial and venous ectasia, cord compression and displacement may be present. Less consistently, T2 signal hyperintensity reflecting cord edema, ischemia, and/or gliosis may be present, as well as enhancement of the pia arachnoid.^35,45

FIG 6.

An 11-year-old boy with a type IV intradural-perimedullary spinal AVF. A, Sagittal T2 MR imaging of the thoracic spine shows enlarged, predominantly ventral, perimedullary flow voids (white arrow) indenting the ventral cord (yellow arrow). B and C, Sequential frontal view DSA images from injection of the left T9 segmental artery show contrast progression through the ASA (red arrow), nidus (black arrow), ectatic left radiculomedullary vein (blue arrow), left common iliac vein (green arrow), and inferior vena cava (white arrow). D, Frontal magnified DSA shows a catheter traversing the opacified ASA (red arrow) and embolization coil (black arrow) and Onyx (Covidien) (yellow arrow) material within the nidus. The draining vein no longer opacifies as a result of shunt obliteration.

The angioarchitectural findings of IPAVFs depicted on CTA or MRA depend on the subtype. Findings of subtype IVa lesions include enhancement of a normal-caliber ASA branch and a mildly dilated perimedullary vein along the ventral surfaces of the conus medullaris or filum terminale.^45,46

Subtypes IVb and IVc IPAVFs both depict ≥1 arterial feeder and/or shunt, with ectatic perimedullary drainage. Subtype IVc generally has a greater number and size of involved vessels and shunts compared with subtype IVb.⁴⁶ Selective DSA injection may depict this shunt/vessel multiplicity as an abrupt transition to a larger caliber vessel, with contrast dilution from unopacified converging feeders.⁴⁷ The rate of contrast progression through the vascular elements increases with subtype order.⁷

Differential Diagnoses/Mimics

CSF Flow Artifacts.

Sequences using short-TE, thinner slices, and imaging planes perpendicular to the direction of CSF flow can create signal voids mimicking the vascular flow voids related to shunting (Fig 7A).³⁹ Heavily T2-weighted sequences are most likely to distinguish vascular from CSF flow voids.¹⁴

FIG 7.

A, A 41-year-old woman with normal CSF flow-related signal voids. Sagittal T2 MR imaging of the thoracic spine shows multiple prominent CSF flow voids (green arrows), mimicking the perimedullary vascular flow voids characteristic of spinal vascular shunts. B, A 71-year-old man with spinal stenosis. Sagittal T2 MR imaging of the lumbar spine shows multiple tortuous, redundant-appearing cauda equina nerve roots (yellow arrow) mimicking the perimedullary flow voids of a spinal vascular shunt above the levels of thecal sac stenoses (white and blue arrows).

Tortuous Redundant Roots.

Severe thecal sac stenosis can result in tortuous cauda equina roots appearing as serpentine areas of perimedullary low signal (Fig 7B).⁴⁸ The close proximity of these low-signal areas to the level of stenosis can help distinguish this finding from vascular flow voids.

Spinal Vascular Masses.

Vascular masses of the cord may exhibit imaging features similar to the those of the nidus of a type II spinal AVM (Fig 8A).^13,26,49 For example, hemangioblastomas may be accompanied by surrounding cord edema and a dilated draining vein. Distinction is made by lesion multifocality, avid enhancement, or syndromic associations such as Von Hippel-Lindau disease.^26,50

FIG 8.

A, A 61-year-old man with a cavernous malformation of the cervical cord. Sagittal T2 MR imaging of the cervical spine shows a small intramedullary mass with central hyperintense signal (white arrow) and a peripheral rim of low signal (black arrow), indicative of blood products in various stages of degradation. There is normal signal in the adjacent cord (yellow arrow). B, A 42-year-old woman with a history of Von Hippel-Lindau disease and cervical cord hemangioblastomas. Sagittal T2 MR imaging shows a small intramedullary mass (yellow arrow) with heterogeneous hyperintense internal signal and surrounding cord edema with cord expansion (blue arrow). C, Sagittal contrast-enhanced T1 with fat saturation depicts intense enhancement (white arrows) within multiple lesions.

Mass effect sometimes imparted by cavernous malformations may result in regional venous engorgement.⁴⁰ However, a thin rim of susceptibility signal loss related to hemosiderin staining, as well as the characteristic “popcorn” signal pattern and the angiographically occult nature, may distinguish a cavernous malformation from a type II spinal AVM.^13,51

Collateral Venous Flow.

Obstructive pathologies compromising normal venous drainage with resulting collateral venous engorgement may be difficult to distinguish from the vascular prominence of SVS types lacking an intervening nidus.⁵² Recognizing characteristic patterns of collateral venous engorgement and identifying a source of obstruction can help distinguish this process from an SVS.

Management

Type I: Dural AVF.

Operative management involves ligation of the fistulized vein through a laminectomy.²¹ Endovascular management typically involves cannulation of the involved segmental artery followed by embolization of the fistula and draining vein.

Type II: Glomus AVM.

Although the technique varies with lesion location and operator preferences, multilevel laminectomies typically afford sufficient lesion access^23,53 for microsurgical resection of extramedullary SGAVM elements. Presurgical embolization may achieve partial lesion obliteration and facilitate intraoperative localization via casting of the embolic material.^23,53

Stereotactic radiosurgery is an emerging treatment strategy, with 2 single-center studies demonstrating rates of lesion-size reduction between 50% and 100%, with complete obliteration rates up to 19%.^17,54

Type III: Spinal Juvenile AVM.

SJAVMs are not frequently amenable to intervention, and benefits are often brief, with high rates of additional procedures required.^1,26,34 When attempted, embolization is generally regarded as first-line therapy for SJAVMs due to high rates of intraoperative hemorrhage.

Type IV: Intradural Perimedullary AVF.

The treatment approach depends on the number and size of the involved arterial feeders and thus the IPAVF subtype. Therapy generally consists of endovascular embolization, surgery, or a combination of both.

CONCLUSIONS

The relatively infrequent and anatomically complex nature of spinal vascular shunts can present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to radiologic and surgical teams. Assessment of these lesions can be further complicated by the lack of a universally accepted classification scheme. However, a working knowledge of the 4 most frequently described types of spinal vascular shunts permits a useful initial evaluation of these lesions. Imaging is critical, and radiologists play a pivotal role in suggesting a diagnosis and planning selective treatment options. Early diagnosis improves outcomes, because patients may benefit from early intervention.

Footnotes

Paper previously presented, in part, as an educational poster in a short digital format at: Annual Meeting of the European Congress of Radiology, July 15–19, 2020; Virtual.

Indicates open access to non-subscribers at www.ajnr.org

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Received March 21, 2021.
Accepted after revision June 29, 2021.

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Abstract

ABBREVIATIONS:

Normal Spinal Vascular Anatomy

Historical Classification Schemes

Type I: Spinal Dural AVF.

Type II: Spinal Glomus AVM.

Type III: Spinal Juvenile AVM.

Type IV: Intradural Perimedullary AVF.

Clinical Symptomology

Type I: Spinal Dural AVF.

Type II: Spinal Glomus AVM.

Type III: Spinal Juvenile AVM.

Type IV: Intradural Perimedullary AVF.

Imaging Findings

Type I: Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula.

Type II: Spinal Glomus AVM.

Type III: Metameric Spinal AVM.

Type IV: Intradural Perimedullary AVF.

Differential Diagnoses/Mimics

CSF Flow Artifacts.

Tortuous Redundant Roots.

Spinal Vascular Masses.

Collateral Venous Flow.

Management

Type I: Dural AVF.

Type II: Glomus AVM.

Type III: Spinal Juvenile AVM.

Type IV: Intradural Perimedullary AVF.

CONCLUSIONS

Footnotes

References

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