To evaluate the efficacy of the combined approach of preoperative endovascular embolization (EE) and surgical excision (SE) for scalp arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and present an illustrative case report.
A systematic review was conducted using online databases (PubMed/Medline, Cochrane, and Embase) on February 15, 2023. The inclusion criteria were any type of study of patients with scalp AVMs who were diagnosed and confirmed through angiography and treated with combined preoperative EE and SE. All the articles that met the inclusion criteria were included in this study.
A total of 49 articles (91 patients) were included. The patients\' age ranged from 10 days to 70 years at the time of presentation. The most common symptoms were a pulsatile mass in 51 patients (56.04%), progressively growing mass in 31 patients (34.06%), and bruits and/or thrills in 22 patients (24.17%). Complications of preoperative EE and SE were observed in only 5 patients; 3 patients (3.29%) had harvested skin graft marginal necrosis, 1 patient (1.09%) had skin necrosis, and 1 patient (1.09%) had a wound infection. Only 2 patients (2.19%) reported a recurrent or residual mass during a median follow-up period of 12 months.
The management of scalp AVMs can be challenging; therefore, focused, and accurate identification of the complexity of the vascular anatomy is required. The combined method of preoperative EE and SE showed satisfactory outcomes with low rates of complications and recurrence; thus, we recommend this approach for the management of scalp AVMs.

BACKGROUND: Scalp arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), or cirsoid aneurysms of the scalp, usually present with troublesome symptoms and cosmetic disfigurement. Endovascular/percutaneous embolization has evolved as a sole treatment method or adjunct to surgical excision in the management of scalp AVMs with an excellent outcome.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss minimally invasive techniques for treating scalp AVMs as well as to highlight the role of embolization before surgery.
METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 50 patients with scalp AVM who underwent embolization (percutaneous/endovascular) during 2010-2019 at a tertiary care center. n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) was used as an embolizing agent in all the cases and the patients were followed up at three- and six-month intervals with Doppler evaluation.
RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were included in the study. The occipital region was the most common location; 82% were Schobinger class II lesions and 18% were class III lesions. Thirteen patients had small-sized AVMs and 37 patients had large-sized AVMs. Post-embolization surgery was performed in 36 patients. Of the patients, 28 underwent percutaneous embolization, 20 underwent endovascular embolization, and two underwent both to achieve complete embolization of the lesion. The number of percutaneous procedures increased in the latter half of the study period as the safety and efficacy of the technique were established. No major complications were seen in this study.
CONCLUSIONS: Embolization of scalp AVMs is a safe and effective technique and can be used in isolation for small lesions and as an adjunct procedure to surgery for large-sized lesions.

BACKGROUND: Scalp arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare congenital disease that may present with massive bleeding. To date, surgical excision remains the definitive management. However, the procedure could lead to intraoperative bleeding due to the tumor\'s high blood flow and complex vascularity.
METHODS: A 49-year old Filipino male presented with a bleeding giant scalp AVM. Computed tomographic scan and duplex studies showed multiple feeding vessels with turbulent flow arising primarily from the right superficial temporal, right posterior auricular, and occipital vessels. Prior to surgery, the patient underwent transfusion due to preoperative hemoglobin of 6 g/dL. Proximal control of the right external carotid artery was performed through a supine position and left in place to reduce the majority of blood flow to the AVM. The patient was turned to a prone position for surgical planning to achieve maximal skin-sparing dissection prior to excision. First, ligation of bilateral superficial temporal and posterior auricular arteries was performed. Next, excision above the periosteum with segmental ligation of feeding vessels around the AVM was carried out. Reconstruction of the defect was done via scalp advancement flap and split-thickness skin grafting. Intraoperative blood loss was 1.6 L. On the sixth postoperative day, the patient was discharged with 100% graft take.
CONCLUSIONS: Management of scalp AV malformation is challenging, and despite measures to decrease intraoperative bleeding, blood loss is still high. While preoperative embolization has been reported to decrease the risk of bleeding, this procedure is not currently available in our setting. Our case highlights the complexity of giant scalp AV malformation management in a limited-resource setting. Even in the absence of endovascular intervention, outright surgical excision of AVM can be performed, albeit with higher levels of blood loss.

UNASSIGNED: Scalp arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are rare vascular malformations reported only in small case series. Scalp AVMs usually present with symptoms, including headache, tinnitus, epilepsy, cerebral ischemia, and necrosis of the scalp, which can cause functional, cosmetic, and psychological problems. There are many difficulties in the treatment of scalp AVM because of its complex characteristics of vascular anatomy, non-uniform structure, and intracranial-extracranial anastomosis.
UNASSIGNED: To illustrate the endovascular treatment of scalp AVM via direct percutaneous puncture while traditional arterial and venous approaches were not available. In this report, access was obtained through a direct puncture of the enlarged frontal vein. Onyx-18 was injected through a microcatheter to occlude draining veins, fistulous connection, and the feeders. An 18-gauge indwelling needle was inserted into draining veins directly. Postembolization angiography demonstrated complete sAVM occlusion immediately and no non-targeted embolization. At a 1-year follow-up, no procedure-related complications and evidence of recurrence were observed.
UNASSIGNED: The technique of endovascular embolization via direct percutaneous puncture approach is safe, rapid, and effective for specific sAVM. Treatment options should be made in terms of size, vascular anatomical characteristics of the lesions, patient\'s preference, cosmetic factors, and available expertise.

BACKGROUND: Cirsoid aneurysms, also known as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), of the scalp are relatively rare lesions. They may be found incidentally or with symptoms such as an enlarging pulsatile mass, headache, or bleeding.
METHODS: This retrospective case series comprised 10 cases of scalp AVMs that were treated with surgical excision from January 2010 to January 2020. Diagnosis was made with simple palpation and computed tomography angiography. Scalp AVMs were categorized according to the Schobinger classification.
RESULTS: There were 10 patients, 8 males and 2 females, with a mean age of 22.6 years (range, 10-40 years). All patients underwent ligation of the feeding artery with total excision of the AVM. There were no postoperative complications or recurrences during a mean follow-up of 21.6 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative embolization reduces vascularity and helps in easy identification as well as complete excision of cirsoid aneurysms during surgery. However, surgical excision alone of cirsoid aneurysms also results in excellent outcomes.

Scalp arteriovenous malformations, also known as cirsoid aneurysms, are complex collections of directly communicating arteries and veins. As a cirsoid aneurysm grows, it can recruit a blood supply from multiple intracranial and extracranial vessels and involve both scalp and facial tissue. Depending on their size and complexity, a variety of strategies can be used to treat them.
We have presented the case of a giant cirsoid aneurysm treated with endovascular embolization, resection, and reconstruction using multiple expanded scalp and facial flaps. A 15-year-old boy had presented with a pulsatile left temporal scalp mass that had slowly grown to involve most of his left scalp and extend into the ipsilateral face. At his next presentation, at 19 years old, he had recently developed episodic lateral visual field loss, photophobia, headaches, and vertigo. Catheter angiography demonstrated an extensive arteriovenous malformation supplied primarily by the left superficial temporal, posterior auricular, and occipital arteries, as well as by the ophthalmic artery, The angiogram also showed a dural arteriovenous fistula. Initially, tissue expanders were placed in the vertex, occipital, and left lower facial regions. The patient then underwent endovascular embolization, followed by resection and reconstruction of the tissue defect using multiple expanded scalp and facial flaps. The patient recovered well without neurological deficits and had complete resolution of his symptoms. Our surgical collaboration resulted in overall preservation of his hairline and facial symmetry.
Large cirsoid aneurysms can require multidisciplinary treatment combining embolization, resection, and plastic surgical techniques to close the tissue defects.

Scalp arteriovenous malformation is a rare disease. In terms of treatment, surgical removal is often effective and performed. With the development of endovascular treatments, a combination of surgical removal and embolization is now often performed.
A 44-year-old man presented with a mass in his left occipital region. Cerebral angiography led to a diagnosis of scalp arteriovenous malformation. Although he had no neurologic deficits, perfusion computed tomography (CT) scan showed a slight decrease in blood flow in the left cerebral hemisphere, which was presumed to have been caused by the scalp arteriovenous malformation. He suffered from a sleep disorder caused by tinnitus, and a discomfort with the lesion itself; therefore, we decided to surgically remove the lesion. To suppress intraoperative bleeding and safely perform the surgery, preoperative embolization was also planned. After treatment, he had no neurologic deficits and the sleep disorder improved. Perfusion CT scan performed after the surgery showed an improvement in cerebral blood flow in the left cerebral hemisphere.
Because cerebral blood flow may decrease depending on the progression of the lesion, the cerebral blood flow should be evaluated. Considering the treatment modalities depending on the lesion can provide treatment with less recurrence and higher patient satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Scalp arteriovenous malformation (SAVM) is primarily treated by surgery and reports on endovascular treatment are scarce. We report the results of an endovascular-first approach in the treatment of SAVM. We also have proposed a simple dichotomized classification using the angiographically determined morphology findings and discussed its effect on therapeutic decision-making and outcomes.
METHODS: A consecutive series of 25 patients with SAVM treated by initial or endovascular-only methods were included in the final analysis. The SAVM was categorized as a plexiform or fistulous type according to the angiographic morphology. The demographic data, treatment variables, and final clinical outcomes were analyzed and correlated with the proposed classification.
RESULTS: Of the 25 patients, 21 were treated with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) and 3 with liquid ethylene vinyl alcohol. One patient had been treated initially with polyvinyl alcohol particles and later with n-BCA. Overall, complete or near complete obliteration (>90%) was achieved in 72%. Surgical excision was performed in 76%, most often after n-BCA embolization. Fistulous-type SAVMs required greater n-BCA concentrations (median, 33% vs. 20%; P = 0.024) and achieved greater rates of complete or near-complete obliteration (90% vs. 63%). Two patients with fistulous-type SAVMs treated with liquid ethylene vinyl alcohol showed complete resolution, and further treatment was not necessary. Overall, regardless of the embolic material used, the fistulous type demonstrated a significantly greater rate of complete obliteration (75% vs. 33%; P = 0.041) compared with plexiform type.
CONCLUSIONS: High rates of complete and durable obliteration of SAVM are achievable with endovascular embolization. The proposed simplified classification is easy to implement and can aid in choosing the appropriate embolic agent and predicting the therapeutic outcome.

BACKGROUND: Scalp arteriovenous malformations, also known as cirsoid aneurysms, are rare lesions that are congenital, traumatic, or postinfectious in nature. These lesions may be found incidentally or owing to signs and symptoms that they produce, such as an enlarging pulsatile mass, headache, tinnitus, or bleeding. These lesions often constitute high-flow arterial blood from the superficial temporal or occipital arteries with venous outflow into extracranial venous structures.
METHODS: We describe diagnosis and management of 2 cases of congenital scalp arteriovenous malformations in adolescent patients. One case had more typical vascular supply and outflow, whereas the other case demonstrated more uncommon arterial blood supply from extracranial ophthalmic arteries as well as a component of transosseous venous drainage into the intracranial superior sagittal sinus via emissary veins.
RESULTS: Treatment of these lesions usually consists of endovascular embolization followed by surgical resection.
CONCLUSIONS: Both scalp AVMs described were successfully excised after transvenous embolization. Consideration of risks of intracranial venous drainage must be taken into account when evaluating AVM anatomy.