Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare but potentially life-threatening source of bleeding. AVMs have been reported in patients from 18 to 72 years old. Uterine AVMs are characterized by multiple communications of varying sizes between arteries and veins in the same vicinity.

Traditionally, hysterectomy or uterine arteries ligation were the treatment modalities for cases of uterine AVMs. Angiographic arterial embolization has recently become the preferred management protocol because it is minimally invasive and has the potential to preserve fertility.

An atypical embolization procedure is as follows: Using the Seldinger technique through the common femoral artery, initial pelvic angiography is performed followed by selective internal iliac angiography and uterine angiography on the side presumed to be affected during ultrasonographic examination. Embolic materials are carefully introduced into the uterine artery or other feeding arteries until stasis of flow is confirmed angiographically.