Hello,
I hope everyone in this community is doing well. I have a few questions and if someone could share some information with me, I would appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. Thank you and blessings to everyone here.
Is it possible for an AVM to go undetected after imaging has been done? Even if the doctors weren't looking for an AVM, is it something that would have been caught on an MRI anyway? This is something I'm wondering about and thank you to anyone who might reply.
Ok. I'm not so sure with the terminology. In my language they say MRT-scan. I don't know whether it is the same as MRI. Anyway. I guess if they injected contrast dye, which would make blood-vessels visibile, the AVM would also show.
If they are not looking for the AVM, they might not inject the dye to the blood stream.
But if the scans are done with the contrast dye, then I guess the AVM would also show. From my scan results the abnormality was quite clear to me even without the doctor pointing it out.
On the other hand if it is small, then I guess it could remain undetected if not searched for?
Basically - I believe that if the scan was done with the contrast dye injected to the veins, then the AVM would most probably show.
But I am not a doctor. I have seen only my scan results. And it is just my guess.
Hi. :) Thank you so much for replying. I really appreciate it. I hope you're well.
Has anyone here had a smaller AVM that caused symptoms?
Imaging is a great tool that has saved many lives, but it is not perfect. Yes, I have read about people who have had AVMs and AVMs that were ruptured, yet they failed to show up on imaging. Doctors need to look at the whole clinical picture when assessing a patient. What other symptoms is the patient having? There are limitations to the different types of imaging. Many will require an angiogram to completely map out the AVM prior to treatment.
And yes, many of our forum members discovered their AVMs accidentally when imaging was being performed for other reasons.
My AVM was small and it didn’t appear very clearly on MRI. I believe angiogram is the most accurate. That is how they identified mine after it had ruptured.
My avm was not discovered until my late 40's. They discovered it during an angiogram after the doctors had treated by brain aneurysm. I had previous scans and it wasn't caught. Nor was the aneurysm. I was told I had the avm since birth. You gotta remember my scans were done by emergency room doctors so an aneurysm and avm were not part of their function.
Hi. :) Thank you to everyone that has responded. It means a lot to me. I pray that you're doing well and feeling good.
I've been searching for answers because I've had a lot of severe symptoms. My neurologist is sending me for an MRA to rule out aneurysm, but he will only look in the Circle of Willis because he told me that's where neurologists are taught that most problems are. I'm terrified that something could be missed if that's the only place he's going to look.
It is rare but it can happen. Really the best way to “see” an AVM is an angiogram. However, angios are a lot more invasive than an MRI. Do you think you have an AVM? When dealing with an AVM…I usually tell people to get several opinions.
Thank you for replying.:) Blessings to you and everyone here. That sounds terrifying. I hope that things are much better for you now.
Thank you for sharing this with me. :) I'm sorry that you went through that and things weren't found sooner, but I pray that you're doing well.
Just take it a day at a time ok? Do the MRA and see what you learn. Come prepared with a list of questions for your doctor. Our time with them is so short, you want to leave feeling like you got the most out of your appointment. He seems to be taking your symptoms seriously and has ordered tests. If he doesn't find anything, just make sure he reevaluates and takes the next steps.
Hi. :) Thank you for replying. I appreciate it.
I can't seem to find much on Google about AVMs. I found this site and it seems like a really great place with kind and caring people.
Do AVMs cause any symptoms?
Okay. Thank you.
If he doesn't find anything there, should I try to push for more imaging? Nicely, I mean. :)
What grade of AVM do you have?
Hi. :) I don't know if I have an AVM, but I'm being evaluated for aneurysm and I'm wondering if that is something I could also have. I've been having several symptoms such as severe pain in my head, blurry vision and double vision with some other visual disturbances, numbness, weakness and ringing with other sounds in my ears and gait disorder.
I never had any symptoms prior to my temporal AVM bleed when I was 39. I am now 43. However, I started having bad migraines when I was 6-7 yrs old and with a few years of a reprieve in high school I have always had them. I have had numerous MRI’s and I can remember 1-2 MRA with contrast but I think they were prob looking for something to jump out like a tumor. Which I didn’t have. What haunts me, is I was scheduled for an MRA with contrast 7 months before my rupture and cancelled as I thought I was “too busy” with work. My neurologist is part of the group my neurosurgeon ended up being in and I bet he would have caught it…but it all played out as it should! Moral of my story, take the test! Best of luck! Ask any and all question here and to your dr.'s! Brooke
Each AVM is unique. Some members have symptoms, others don't, and others have different types of symptoms. The only difference between an MRI and an MRA is that the MRA IS the contrast. I wish you the very best during your tests and please let us know what happens :)
Thank you so much for sharing with me. I'm sorry that your AVM wasn't found sooner, but it's great to have you here helping others. Bless you.
I had the MRA done, but I pray that nothing is missed. You said you've had numerous MRIs and no one saw your AVM? That kind of scares me.
Thank you. :) I really appreciate that. I had the MRA done, but I don't know anything about it. I hope you're doing well and feeling great.
Hello :) I have a facial AVM and have had CT scan, MRI, and angiogram done. Angiogram is definitely the best, and the CT with contrast is less invasive and showed the AVM pretty well too according to my doctor. Not sure if it's the same as for the brain, hope this helps.