Also known as venous angiomas, developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) affect small blood vessels, often within the brain and spinal cord. Most people do not experience any symptoms, as DVAs typically do not cause problems with blood flow. As a result, patients usually become aware of DVAs after undergoing a diagnostic procedure related to some other health issue.
MRIs use magnets and low-energy radio waves to create images of areas within the body, such as the brain. When creating images of blood vessels, doctors may use IV-administered contrast dye to develop a clearer picture. Some people experience claustrophobia with traditional machines, but open MRIs do not require patients to lay in an enclosed cylinder (though open MRIs cannot capture the same image quality as traditional close bore machines).
CT scans create images of the body using ionizing radiation, like x-rays. CT scans are not as effective as MRIs when it comes to certain areas of the body, such as soft tissues and fatty areas, like the brain. Additionally, ionizing radiation carries a higher cancer risk than radio waves (though the risk is still minimal for most people). With DVAs, CT scans may only be used when the patient is unable to undergo an MRI.
Like MRIs, angiography involves the use of an injectable contrast dye. And like CT scans, angiography employs ionizing radiation to develop images of areas inside the body. Angiograms are usually performed to diagnose the following conditions:
If DVA is discovered but is not affecting your health, your doctor may choose to monitor the condition. Because most DVAs do not cause health problems, the outlook is typically good post diagnosis.