Objective: To analyze a case of heavy uterine bleeding in adolescence caused by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Vietnam.
Methods: We observed a case of a 14-year-old girl, without vaginal sexual intercourse experience, having heavy uterine bleeding caused by AVM. She underwent a laparoscopic operation at the hospital for vascular lesions in the uterine anterior wall, which caused an internal hemorrhage of 1500 ml blood loss into the peritoneal cavity. Three years later, this patient was hospitalized twice for massive vaginal bleeding.
Results: Results of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging indicated a uterine intramural mass with enlarged vessels connecting to the endometrial cavity. A pelvic digital subtraction angiography was performed and showed profuse bleeding from a ruptured branch of the left uterine artery. This artery was embolized at Bach Mai hospital and the bleeding was stopped. The patient had stable health and normal menstrual periods after 4 months of follow up.
Conclusion: Abnormal mass with dilated vessels in the myometrium in a patient experiencing heavy uterine bleeding is an exclusive sign of uterine vascular malformation and can be treated by angioembolization.
Keywords: adolescence; arteriovenous malformation; heavy uterine bleeding.
© 2021 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.