Maxillary Arteriovenous Malformation - a Case Report

Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are fast-flow congenital vascular malformations, consisting of anomalous communications between the arterial and venous system. They are very rare, accounting for 1.5% of all vascular anomalies with 50% occurrence in the oral and maxillofacial region. They are the most aggressive form of vascular malformation which can lead to significant deformity and functional impairment. Treating AVMs is challenging and relies on surgery, embolization or both.A 23-year-old female patient with a personal history of congenital angioma of the right hemiface was referred to the Stomatology department due to recurrent episodes of spontaneous high-output bleeding at home after dental scaling at her dental provider in the previous week. The diagnosis of maxillary intraoseous AVM was confirmed by angiography and embolization was performed in two sessions, with a liquid embolic agent obstructing four arterial afferences. The patient reported no episodes of hemorrhage or other symptoms on follow-up.AVM can easily be misdiagnosed and produce substantial oral bleeding in the operating room, leading to severe life-threatening complications. Due to the rarity and significance of the symptoms in the oral and maxillofacial region and the potentially fatal outcome after surgery on undiagnosed patients, this case report can be very relevant to the clinician.