Cerebrovascular anomalies are a group of conditions caused by the abnormal formation of blood vessels in the brain. If left undiagnosed or untreated, these blood vessel abnormalities can lead to blood clots, hemorrhages, strokes, and other complications.
Looking For Cerebrovascular Anomaly Care?
What Are Cerebrovascular Anomaly Services?
At UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, we diagnose and treat all types of cerebrovascular anomalies in infants, children, and teens. We specialize in performing advanced, minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures to treat cerebrovascular anomalies and reduce the risk of future complications.
What conditions do you treat?
At UPMC Children’s, we treat all types of cerebrovascular anomalies, including:
- Aneurysm — A bulge in the arterial wall of your child’s brain, leading to a weak spot that could burst and cause life-threatening bleeding.
- Arterial dissection — A tear in the wall of an artery that can cause life-threatening bleeding if it leaks or ruptures.
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) — An abnormal tangle of arteries and veins that develops before birth and can rupture, leading to a hemorrhagic stroke.
- Cavernous malformation — An abnormal cluster of enlarged blood vessels that commonly forms in the brain or spine.
- Hemangioma — A noncancerous growth of blood vessels that looks like a red or purplish lesion on the brain or spine.
- Moyamoya syndrome — Narrowing in the arteries at the base of your child’s brain that causes reduced blood flow and may lead to stroke.
- PHACE syndrome — A rare disorder that causes malformations in your child’s brain, leading to developmental delays, seizures, and neurological problems.
- Vein of Galen malformation — Abnormal connections between arteries in the brain and the vein of Galen (the main cerebral vein). It leads to problems with blood flow that may cause heart failure, hydrocephalus, developmental delays, and seizures in newborns.
- Venous sinus thrombosis — A blood clot that blocks a vein that drains blood from your child’s brain.
Who’s eligible for cerebrovascular anomaly services?
Infants, children, and teens with symptoms or a diagnosis of a cerebrovascular anomaly are eligible for cerebrovascular anomaly services.
What Cerebrovascular Anomaly Services Do You Offer?
Our team offers a full range of cerebrovascular anomaly services, including:
Diagnostic testing for cerebrovascular anomalies
The neuroradiologists and neurologists of the Brain Care Institute at UPMC Children’s will perform diagnostic testing, including:
- Cerebral spinal fluid analysis (spinal tap or lumbar puncture)— Involves inserting a needle into your child’s lower back to collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for lab analysis.
- CT or CAT scan (computed tomography scans) — Creates images of your child’s brain and other structures to check for damaged or abnormal areas.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) — Checks for abnormal electrical signals in your child’s brain.
- Electromyogram (EMG) — Allows a doctor to record and study the electrical activity of your child’s muscles.
- Evoked potentials — Measures how quickly your child’s brain responds to sights, sounds, and sensations.
- Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) scan — Creates images of blood vessels in your child’s brain.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — Creates images of your child’s brain to look for damaged or abnormal areas.
- Magnetoencephalogram (MEG) — Uses magnetic fields produced by electrical signals in your child’s brain to map brain function and diagnose conditions such as epilepsy and tumors.
- Myelogram — Uses contrast dye and real-time x-rays to create images of your child’s spine.
- Nerve conduction study (NCS) — Measures the speed of electrical activity passing through your child’s nerves.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan — Uses a radioactive tracer to create images that are used to diagnose problems with blood flow and other brain abnormalities.
- Ultrasound (sonogram) — Uses sound waves to create real-time images of your child’s organs, bones, tissues, and blood flow.
Cerebrovascular anomaly treatments
Treatment options for cerebrovascular anomalies differ depending on the type and severity of the condition. Our multidisciplinary approach provides your child with comprehensive care.
Treatment options may include:
- Direct bypass procedure — Connects an artery from your child’s scalp directly to an artery inside their brain to restore blood flow.
- Endovascular embolization — Performed by an endovascular neurosurgeon or an interventional neuroradiologist, this minimally invasive procedure cuts off blood flow to a malformed blood vessel. The procedure is performed using a catheter that is inserted into an artery in your child’s groin and guided to the malformation.
- Indirect bypass procedure — Places an artery or muscle onto the brain’s surface, allowing it to grow new blood vessels over time.
- Pial synangiosis — A type of indirect bypass, pial synangiosis involves using an artery from your child’s scalp to treat moyamoya disease and create a new blood supply pathway for their brain over time.
- Sclerotherapy — Involves injecting chemicals into the malformation to cut off blood flow and shrink it over time.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery — Uses highly precise radiation beams to destroy malformations in your child’s brain or spine.
- Surgical removal — Involves using open or minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove the malformation.
What Can I Expect From Cerebrovascular Anomaly Services?
When your child comes to UPMC Children’s, they will receive personalized, multidisciplinary treatment from some of the nation’s leading experts in neurosurgical procedures for cerebrovascular anomalies.
During your first visit, your child will meet with members of our team for a comprehensive evaluation that may include:
- A review of your child’s health history and medical records.
- Brain imaging, including MRI and magnetoencephalogram (MEG) scans.
- Developmental, psychological, and social assessments.
- Testing as needed, such as an EEG or EMG.
- Physical, neurological, and neuropsychological exams.
Using this information, our multidisciplinary team will meet to discuss treatment options for your child’s cerebrovascular anomaly. With input from your family, our team will recommend a personalized treatment plan tailored to your child’s condition and needs.
Do I Need a Referral for Cerebrovascular Anomaly Services?
We require a physician referral from your primary care physician or another UPMC Children's specialist. You should check with your health insurance company to see if an insurance referral is required.
All necessary referral and authorization forms must be received before your child’s visit. For accurate provider numbers or more information, please call Pediatric Neurosurgery at 412-692-5090.
Your cerebrovascular anomaly care team
Our multidisciplinary approach provides your child with access to opinions and recommendations from a renowned group of experts, including specialists in:
