Surgical and embolic treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

Twenty-eight cases of cerebral arteriovenous malformations in which the treatment consisted of embolization and/or surgical excision are reviewed. Embolization was considered an adjuvant procedure; carried out to reduce the size of the malformation or eliminate the deep arterial supply to it prior to excision. In sixteen of the cases the combined treatment was carried out with one death and one significant postoperative deficit. In the other twelve cases surgical operation or embolization alone was carried out. The anatomy of the lesion determined the applicability of embolization. Although embolization has a high degree of safety, certain pitfalls must be avoided. Changing patterns in the cerebral circulation following embolization and operation as well as the role of collateral circulation to cerebral arteriovenous malformations are discussed.