Vascular malformations of the posterior fossa. Clinical and radiologic features
M. H. Silber, B. A. Sandok and F. Earnest 4th
Thirty-one patients with vascular malformations of the posterior fossa were
studied to determine their clinical presentation and radiologic diagnosis.
The most common clinical presentations were acute hemorrhage (68%, 21/31)
and progressive or fluctuating focal neurologic deficits resembling those
found in other pathologic processes (19%, 6/31). Trigeminal neuralgia and
hemifacial spasm occurred in these patients, but they were rarely initial
presenting symptoms. Computed tomography, after infusion of contrast
medium, was abnormal in 95% (20/21) of the patients. Angiography
established or confirmed the diagnosis in most of the patients; however, a
negative angiogram, especially in cases with recent hemorrhage, does not
exclude the diagnosis.
