Spine: Vascular Pathologies

Spinal vascular pathologies require a fundamental understanding of basic spinal arterial and venous anatomy. As such, this chapter begins first with a vascular anatomy review focusing primarily on the unique features of spinal vascular versus conventional vascular anatomy. Following this, pathologies of the spinal vasculature are examined focusing primarily on abnormal arteriovenous shunting and the various subtypes thereof. Clinical manifestations, imaging appearances, and brief management approaches to these lesions are discussed with imaging examples. Finally, a focused review of other vascular pathologies such as cavernous malformation and spinal ischemia is provided.