Diagnosis and treatment of diffuse cerebral arteriovenous malformations / 中国脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To describe the clinical features, radiological and pathological characteristic and the treatment of the cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) which were appeared diffuse on angiography. Methods The related clinical information of 8 cases with AVM which were diagnosed by cerebral angiogram were reviewed and analyzed. Results 8 cases were found to be diffuse AVM. They were mostly presented with intracerebral hemorrhage. On angiography, the AVM included multiple small arterial feeders, a diffuse, wedge-shaped and puddling appearance of the contrast dye, without an identifiable compact nidus. Multiple draining veins were noted. 4 cases were underwent craniotomy, the AVM were completely removed in 2 cases, 1 case who was pretreated with embolization had residual nidus after operation, and the nidus of the other one case was not removed completely because the nidus located in the eloquent area of the brain. On histological examination, normal brain tissue were found in the abnormal AVM vessels. In the rest 4 cases, 2 patients died of repeated intracerebral hemorrhage, and the other 2 cases received no special treatment. Conclusion The diffuse cerebral AVM is different from the typical AVM on angiography and histopathology. Because of its' diffuse character, it should be treated individually. If the lesion locates in the silent areas of the brain, craniotomy should be taken, but it is difficult to remove the nidus completely.