Multimodal management of ruptured cerebral micro-arteriovenous malformations: A retrospective series of 19 cases and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND

Micro-arteriovenous malformations (micro-AVMs) are defined as AVMs just visible on angiography with a nidus size between 0.5 and 1cm. Their principal manifestation is intracranial hemorrhage and their diagnosis and therapeutic management are still unclear.

METHODS

The aim of our work was to show the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of ruptured cerebral micro-AVMs in a retrospective cohort study of 19 patients and a systematic review of the literature.

RESULTS

We obtained a total of 20 micro-AVMs in 19 patients. The mean age was 47.3 years. Clinical presentation was acute bleeding. The mean volume of hematoma was 12.9 mm (0 - 60.4), with topographic distribution as follows: 64% cortical with supratentorial bleeding, 26% deep, and 10% in the posterior fossa. Among the 20 micro-AVMs of the series, 11 (55%) had endovascular management, 6 (30%) had surgical treatment and 3 (15%) had GK radiosurgery alone. All of our patients have been cured at the end of the follow up without re-permeabilization. In our series, clinical outcome showed good recovery with a mean score of 4.6 on Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). In the literature, 88% of patients had a GOS of 4 or 5.

DISCUSSION

Intracerebral hematoma (ICH) was the main clinical manifestation. In the case of negative initial angiographic assessment, patients must have supraselective angiographic exploration. In the case of conservative treatment of hematoma, endovascular obliteration and microsurgical exclusion seems to be reasonable therapeutic options, according to our observations.