Speech
Reorganization after an AVM
Bleed Cured by Embolization. A Case Report and Review of the Literature
R.
La
Piana,
D.
Klein,
MDP.
Cortes,
D.
Tampieri
Summary
-
Intracerebral
arteriovenous
malformations
(AVMs)
are
defined
as
the
direct
communication
of
arteries
to
abnormal
veins
without
interposing
capillaries.
Although
AVMs
can
have
various
clinical
presentations
due
to
their
dynamic
nature,
the
most
common
presenting
sign
is
intracerebral
hemorrhage.
Whenever
an
AVM
is
discovered,
the
therapeutic
choice
is
often
not
obvious
and
it
is
influenced
not
only
by
the
hemodynamic
features
of
the
AVM,
but
also
by
considerations
of
the
extent
of
intervention-related
morbidity
and
mortality.
A
patient
with
a
left
frontal
AVM
is
described.
He
bled
three
years
after
gamma
knife
radiosurgery
and
developed
aphasia.
The
complete
obliteration
of
the
AVM
was
later
achieved
by
embolization.
Functional
compensatory
brain
reorganization
and
plasticity
is
discussed,
since
our
patient
presented
with
a
fast
recovery
from
aphasia
and
unexpected
contralateral
redistribution
of
the
speech
function
and
with
preference
for
his
second
spoken
language.