We present 2 cases of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in children that recurred 5 and 16 years, respectively, after initial total extirpation confirmed by cerebral angiography. In the first case, a parasplenial AVM that presented initially as a hemorrhage in a 5-year-old patient was completely resolved. Sixteen years later, it reappeared posterior to its initial location in the nidus and then ruptured. The second case also presented initially with AVM-related hemorrhage. Five years following extirpation of the diffuse paracallosal AVM in the right frontal lobe, the defect reappeared surrounding the location of the initial lesion and continued to grow.
These cases demonstrate that even in cases where cerebral angiography and operative findings confirm total extirpation of an AVM, the AVM may recur after 10 years or longer. Thus, long-term follow-up is recommended in such cases, especially for children.
