Differential diagnosis of pediatric cerebral vascular malformations

• High flow
  — Intracranial arteriovenous malformation
  — Vein of Galen malformation
• Low flow
  — Cavernous malformation
  — Developmental venous anomaly
  — Sinus pericranii

Approach to the differential diagnosis of cerebral vascular malformations:

• High flow
  — Intracranial arteriovenous malformation – often presents with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage
  — Vein of Galen malformation – often presents with heart failure
• Low flow
  — Cavernous malformation – often presents incidentally, classically has hemosiderin ring from prior microhemorrhage
  — Developmental venous anomaly – an incidental finding
  — Sinus pericranii – usually involves the cranial vault and the sagittal sinus