Intraventricular contrast medium leakage during ethanol embolization of anarteriovenous malformation

We report the unusual phenomenon of abrupt intraventricular contrast medium leakage from the choroid plexus occurring during ethanol embolization of a periventricular arteriovenous malformation. There was no evidence of any a ssociated intraventricular hemorrhage to suggest that leakage arose from a vessel perforation, as was first suspected. Intraventricular contrast mediu m leakage has been reported previously in the setting of ependymitis, and i t is likely that similar pathogenetic mechanisms apply in this case. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of intraventricular contrast me dium leakage occurring during an embolization procedure.