Intraosseous arteriovenous shunt of lumbar spine mimicking a benign bone tumor: A case report and short review of the literature

Background Paraspinal arteriovenous shunts (PAVSs) remain a rare pathology, compared to the well-studied dural arteriovenous shunts. Intraosseous development of these lesions may mimick primary bone tumor. Case description We report of a 75 year-old lady with PAVS of lumbar spine mimicking an osseous tumor presenting without circulatory instability or neurologic deficits. Excision of the lesion was performed without complications. Her postoperative status was also bland. Histology revealed an intraosseous arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Its drainage had to be exclusively extra-spinal, inasmuch as no venous congestion of myelon or systematic circulatory disorder occurred. Conclusions Treating physicians should include vascular malformations in differential diagnosis regarding bone tumors. A non-invasive angiographic method could be included in the preoperative work-up.