Unilateral facial arteriovenous communication and its clinical implications

Any abnormal communication between an artery and a vein is commonly referred to as arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Such abnormal communications may be congenital or acquired. Communication between facial arteries and veins is of great clinical significance with respect to facial surgery. Anatomical knowledge of abnormal communications between arteries and veins may be important for vascular surgeons and radiologists performing angiographic studies. The present study reports the communication between facial artery and vein detected on the right side in the cadaver of a 52 year old man. This communication was situated at a distance of 2.5 cm from the angle of the mandible. Existence of such arteriovenous communications between facial vessels has important clinical implications.