Arteriovenous malformation of the base of tongue in pregnancy: case report

• Published in: Acta otorhino-laryngologica italica 2009-10, Vol.29 (5), p.274-278
• Main Authors: MARTINES, F, IMMORDINO, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arteriovenous Malformations - pathology; Arteriovenous Malformations - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Case report; Embolization, Therapeutic - methods; Female; Humans; Medical sciences; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pregnancy; Tongue - blood supply; Tongue - pathology
• ISSN: 0392-100X; 1827-675X

Arteriovenous malformation of the head and neck is a rare vascular anomaly but when present is persistent and progressive in nature and can represent a lethal benign disease. An unusual case is presented of an arteriovenous malformation of the base of tongue in a 32-year-old primigravida at 23.2 weeks of gestation with a history of haemoptysis. The patient was admitted to hospital with 10.7 g/dl of haemoglobin and 32.1% of haematocrit but due to recurrent massive haemoptysis, in the next few days, dropped to 6.7 g/dl of haemoglobin and 20.2% of haematocrit which required immediate blood transfusions. To maintain the upper airways patent the patient underwent tracheostomy; during angiography, showing an arteriovenous malformation with its feeding arteries (lingual artery, internal maxillary artery, and maxillary artery) embolization was made without a significant blood flow reduction. After surgical ligation of the external carotid artery, on the right side, the patient was readmitted for further angiographic evaluation, which confirmed complete occlusion of the carotid artery but, at the same time, revealed the integrity of the arteriovenous malformation perfusion on account of a new feeding artery (left lingual artery). A new superselective catheterization of the lingual artery was performed but due to the effect of progesterone, which causes smooth muscle relaxation and leads to arteriovenous malformation dilatation and rupture, the primigravida again presented haemoptysis. In agreement with the gynaecologists, the patient was given betamethasone to induce foetal lung maturation, and induction of labour was planned at 26 weeks, and a healthy baby was delivered naturally. Over the following days, the patient had no further haemoptysis and so far clinical examination showed no evidence of the original mass (slight haemorrhagic suffusion of the right anterior amygdala region).