Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a particular type of vascular malformation of the brain—an abnormal collection or tangle of arteries and veins located within the substance of the brain. AVMs appear to be associated with a maldevelopment of the small capillaries that normally connect the arteries and veins.
Brain aneurysm
Brain aneurysm is a thin-walled blister on an artery at the base of the brain. In medical terminology, an aneurysm is an abnormal dilation involving the wall of an artery. Arteries are thick-walled blood vessels that carry blood pumped from the heart to all parts of the body. A brain aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain—a result of a thinning artery wall. Approximately 1 in 50 people have an unruptured brain aneurysm and many are undetected. High-risk individuals should ask their doctor to determine is screening is advisable.
Brain bleed
Brain bleed from a ruptured aneurysm causes severe symptoms including an extreme headache and is a medical emergency.
Brain tumors
Brain tumors may be benign or malignant (cancerous). At the National Brain Aneurysm & Tumor Center, we have cared for patients with all types of adult and pediatric brain tumors.
Adult Brain Tumors
Anaplastic astrocytoma (grade III glioma)
Ependymoma
Glioblastoma (grade IV glimoa)
Gliomas
Low-grade astrocytoma (grade II glioma)
Mixed glioma
Oligodendroglioma
Pilocytic astrocytoma (grade I glioma)
Pediatric Brain Tumors
Astrocytoma
Brainstem glioma
Craniopharyngioma
Ependymoma
Medulloblastoma
Brain vascular lesions
Brain vascular lesions refers to abnormal tissue in or on the brain tissue. Symptoms depend upon which part of the brain is affected and range from minimal to life-threatening.
Carotid disorders
Carotid disorders are caused by a buildup of plaques in arteries that deliver blood to the brain.
Cerebrovascular disorders
Cerebrovascular disorders include stroke, carotid stenosis, vertebral stenosis and intracranial stenosis, aneurysms and vascular malformations. The National Brain Aneurysm & Tumor Center neurosurgeons are national experts in treating these conditions.
Cerebral ischemic disorders
Cerebral ischemic disorders occur when there isn’t adequate blood flow to the brain to meet the body’s metabolic needs. This leads to limited oxygen supply and may result in death of brain tissue or stroke. Focal ischemia is confined to a region of the brain and global ischemia encompasses wide areas of brain tissue.
Pediatric cerebrovascular disorders
Pediatric cerebrovascular disorders include pediatric arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms, Moyamoya malformations and Vein of Galen malformations. These conditions are rare and require a multidisciplinary care team approach.
Skull base tumors
Skull base tumors may be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and are located on the floor, or base, of the skull. Both benign and malignant tumors in this area require expert care and treatment due to the small space in the skull base.
Benign skull base tumors include:
acoustic neuroma
epidermoid tumors
glomus tumors
meningioma
neuroma
pituitary adenoma.
Malignant skull base tumors include:
carcinoid
carcinomas
esthesioblastoma
mucosal melanoma
sarcomas.
Spinal tumor
Spinal tumors are formed by an abnormal mass of tissue within or surrounding the spinal cord or column and may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Stroke
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. According to the American Stroke Association, it is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it and brain cells die.
Vascular malformations
Vascular malformations are an abnormality in the development of the blood vessels within the brain resulting in an abnormal collection or pattern of blood vessels in the brain.
Dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF) refers to an abnormal direct connection or fistula between a meningeal artery and a meningeal vein or dural venous sitenus. The term DAVF is used when there are multiple fistulas.
Cavernous malformation (cavernous angioma) are clusters of abnormal, tiny blood vessels and larger, stretched-out, thin-walled blood vessels filled with blood and located in the brain. These blood vessel malformations can also occur in the spinal cord, the covering of the brain (dura) or the nerves of the skull.