The multiple brain abscesses associated with congenital pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: a case report

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 407 - 411
• Main Authors: Han, Seok, Lim, Dong-Jun, Chung, Yong-Gu, Cho, Tai-Hyoung, Lim, Seong-Jun, Kim, Woo-Jae, Park, Jung-Yul, Suh, Jung-Keun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01.06.2002; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Arteriovenous Malformations - complications; Arteriovenous Malformations - diagnostic imaging; Brain Abscess - diagnostic imaging; Brain Abscess - etiology; Capillaries; Child; Humans; Male; Pulmonary Circulation; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; 의학일반
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2002.17.3.407

In this report, we describe a case of multiple brain abscesses associated with diffuse congenital pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM). Although the cases of brain abscesses associated with congenital PAVM are very rare, the brain abscess could be an initial clinical manifestation in asymptomatic PAVM as in the case presented in this report. PAVM may contribute to the development of a brain abscess by allowing easy bacterial access to systemic circulation through the right-to-left pulmonary vascular shunt, bypassing the filtering effect of the pulmonary capillaries. Hence, this association should be considered in cases with brain abscesses of undetermined etiologic factors.