Developmental Venous Anomaly
- A developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is a congenital anomaly of the venous drainage.
- The term DVA was first coined by Lasjaunias et al to underline its character as an embryological variant of normal venous drainage.
- Usually asymptomatic. DVAs are commonly associated with cavernous angiomas and are uncommonly associated with cervicofacial venous malformation or facial lymphatic malformation.
- Key Imaging Features: "Medusa head" (dilated medullary white matter veins) appearance. Large "collector" vein drains into dural sinus or deep ependymal vein. Stellate, tubular vessels converge on collector vein.
- DDx: Hemorrhagic neoplasm
- Rx: DVA is an embryological variant. Should not be excised or treated.
