Objectives: To report the case of a spontaneous arteriovenous malformation involving the auricula, external auditory meatus, middle ear and part of the petrous apex, and also to provide updated information about its management.
Case report: A 33-year-old woman presented complaining of accelerated growth of a retro-auricular swelling during her latest pregnancy, together with pain, pulsatile tinnitus and ear discharge. An arteriovenous malformation occupying the right auricula, external auditory canal, mastoid process of the temporal bone and the lateral half of the petrous segment was diagnosed, using temporal computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The lesion was embolised with polyvinyl alcohol particles at angiography. Excision of the arteriovenous malformation nidus was performed. Three years post-operatively, magnetic resonance imaging showed no residual lesion or recurrence at the temporal bone and petrous apex, although a few scanty, serpiginous, vascular remnants had persisted.
Conclusions: In the head and neck, arteriovenous malformations usually occur intracranially; they are rare outside the cranium. To our knowledge, there have been no previously published cases of such an extensive arteriovenous malformation involving the temporal region. Apropos of our case, the definition, clinical findings, diagnostic approaches and therapeutic management of arteriovenous malformations are discussed.