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Neurosurgery for Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)

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PanVascular Medicine

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Abstract

Brain arteriovenous malformations comprise a large group of vascular lesions. This chapter focuses on cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the pia which are a type of arteriovenous shunt located within the subpial and/or subarachnoid space characterized by a network of abnormal channels (nidus) between the arterial supply and venous drainage. Cerebral AVMs remain a rare disease with a potentially morbid natural history. All treatment modalities have differences in specific risks, invasivity, or cure rates. Therefore the optimal management of brain AVMs is challenging and often involves a complex multidisciplinary decision-making process balancing the risks of any treatment modality alone or in combination with the risk of conservative management. This takes into account whether the AVM is ruptured or not, AVM-specific characteristics such as location, size, and angioarchitecture; patient-specific factors such as age, symptoms, and neurological and medical status; and, finally, also the specific expertise at the treating centers.

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Abbreviations

AED:

Antiepileptic drug

ARUBA:

A randomized trial of unruptured brain AVMs

AVM:

Arteriovenous malformation

DSA:

Digital subtraction angiogram

HHT:

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

NBCA:

N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate

Onyx:

EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer)

SM:

Spetzler–Martin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Interventional Neuroradiology and Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Dr. Raphael Sacho M.D., F.R.C.S. (Eng)

  2. Division Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Prof. Michael Tymianski Ph.D., F.R.C.S. (C) (Head) & Prof. Ivan Radovanovic M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Dr. Raphael Sacho M.D., F.R.C.S. (Eng)
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  2. Prof. Michael Tymianski Ph.D., F.R.C.S. (C)
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  3. Prof. Ivan Radovanovic M.D., Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ivan Radovanovic M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus MLU, Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany

    Peter Lanzer

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Sacho, R., Tymianski, M., Radovanovic, I. (2014). Neurosurgery for Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs). In: Lanzer, P. (eds) PanVascular Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37393-0_106-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37393-0_106-1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-37393-0

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