Ultrasound-Based Diagnosis of a Giant Left Iliofemoral Arteriovenous Malformation: A Case Report

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) is a congenital vascular malformation classified as a high-flow vascular malformation. For AVM, Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) is central to both establishing a definitive diagnosis and performing interventional procedures. While ultrasound serves as a valuable noninvasive tool for initial screening and monitoring, it is not typically employed for critical diagnostic or therapeutic decisions. This paper reports a 46-year-old female with a giant left gluteal internal iliac AVM. Conventional ultrasound revealed a 129 mm × 70 mm cystic-solid mass with coarse vascular echoes and arteriovenous fistula-type blood flow. The patient recovered and was discharged after vascular embolization. Literature analysis shows AVM is characterized by high-flow vascular clusters and high-velocity, low-resistance blood flow. Ultrasound can noninvasively clarify lesion structure and blood supply, playing a vital role in differentiating venous malformations, hemangiomas and superficial space-occupying lesions.