Frequency of spinal arteriovenous malformations in patients with unexplained myelopathy.

The authors reviewed charts of 78 myelopathy patients who underwent spinal angiography for possible arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Twenty-two patients had an AVM. No neurologic complications from angiography were observed. MRI findings of increased T2 signal or flow voids were strongly associated with AVMs. Spinal angiography should be performed in all patients with unexplained myelopathy after neurologic evaluation and an MRI demonstrating increased T2 signal or flow voids.