Arteriovenous fistula of the mandible: a review of the literature and report of a case.

The authors, after a careful review of the literature during the last 15 years concerning arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the jaws, report a case of congenital arteriovenous fistula of the mandible characterized by several episodes of spontaneous hemorrhage requiring emergency hemimandibulectomy. Radiologic, arteriographic and pathologic aspects of this lesion are discussed. Even though nomenclature concerning AVM of the jaws is confusing the authors draw attention to the embryologic features which are responsible for these lesions. They also point out the main diagnostic and therapeutic aspects emphasizing the small effect that ligation of the external carotid artery has on bleeding and the importance of choosing case by case the best treatment considering the great variety of clinical and pathologic aspects that characterize these lesions.