MINIMALLY INVASIVE NEUROLOGICAL THERAPY 

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences 2011 March;55(1):39-56

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Brain arteriovenous malformations: from diagnosis to treatment

Buis D. R. ¹, Van Den Berg R. ², Lagerwaard F. J. ³, Vandertop W. P. ¹ ✉

¹ Neurosurgical Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ² Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ³ Department of Radiation Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVM) are a major cause of morbidity in young people. The main mode of presentation is with a cerebral bleeding or seizures, although nowadays, due to the increased use of MRI, more asymptomatic bAVMs are encountered. The clinical course of asymptomatic bAVMs seems to be mild in comparison to bAVMs that presented with a cerebral hemorrhage. This finding may lead to a paradigm shift regarding treatment of asymptomatic bAVMs. This review discusses the latest findings in bAVM epidemiology and natural history, and compares the optimal imaging modalities and best treatment options.