Brain arteriovenous malformations

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (20) ◽  
pp. 917-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Jen Chen ◽  
Dale Ding ◽  
Colin P. Derdeyn ◽  
Giuseppe Lanzino ◽  
Robert M. Friedlander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Risk Of Hemorrhage ◽  
Brain Avms

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are anomalous direct shunts between cerebral arteries and veins that convalesce into a vascular nidus. The treatment strategies for AVMs are challenging and variable. Intracranial hemorrhage and seizures comprise the most common presentations of AVMs. However, incidental AVMs are being diagnosed with increasing frequency due to widespread use of noninvasive neuroimaging. The balance between the estimated cumulative lifetime hemorrhage risk vs the risk of intervention is often the major determinant for treatment. Current management options include surgical resection, embolization, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and observation. Complete nidal obliteration is the goal of AVM intervention. The risks and benefits of interventions vary and can be used in a combinatorial fashion. Resection of the AVM nidus affords high rates of immediate obliteration, but it is invasive and carries a moderate risk of neurologic morbidity. AVM embolization is minimally invasive, but cure can only be achieved in a minority of lesions. SRS is also minimally invasive and has little immediate morbidity, but AVM obliteration occurs in a delayed fashion, so the patient remains at risk of hemorrhage during the latency period. Whether obliteration can be achieved in unruptured AVMs with a lower risk of stroke or death compared with the natural history of AVMs remains controversial. Over the past 5 years, multicenter prospective and retrospective studies describing AVM natural history and treatment outcomes have been published. This review provides a contemporary and comprehensive discussion of the natural history, pathobiology, and interventions for brain AVMs.

scholarly journals Pathogenesis and radiobiology of brain arteriovenous malformations: implications for risk stratification in natural history and posttreatment course

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. E9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achal S. Achrol ◽  
Raphael Guzman ◽  
Monika Varga ◽  
John R. Adler ◽  
Gary K. Steinberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Genetic Disorders ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Endovascular Embolization ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Congenital Origin

Brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) are an important cause of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in young adults. Biological predictors of future ICH risk are lacking, and controversy exists over previous studies of natural history risk among predominantly ruptured BAVM cohorts. Recent studies have suggested that the majority of BAVMs are now diagnosed as unruptured lesions, and that the risk according to natural history among these lesions may be less than previously assumed. In the first part of this review, the authors discuss available data on the natural history of BAVMs and highlight the need for future studies that aim to develop surrogate biomarkers of disease progression that accurately predict future risk of ICH in BAVMs. The etiology of BAVM remains unknown. Recent studies have suggested a role for genetic factors in the pathogenesis of sporadic BAVM, which is further supported by reports of familial occurrence of BAVM and association with known systemic genetic disorders (such as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, Sturge-Weber disease, and Wyburn-Mason syndrome). Molecular characterization of BAVM tissue demonstrates a highly angiogenic milieu with evidence of increased endothelial cell turnover. Taken together with a number of reports of de novo BAVM formation, radiographic growth after initial BAVM diagnosis, and regrowth after successful treatment of BAVM, these findings challenge the long-held assumption that BAVMs are static lesions of congenital origin. In the second part of this review, the authors discuss available data on the origins of BAVM and offer insights into future investigations into genetics and endothelial progenitor cell involvement in the pathogenesis of BAVM. Current treatment options for BAVM focus on removal or obliteration of the lesion in an attempt to protect against future ICH risk, including microsurgical resection, endovascular embolization, and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). In the third part of this review, the authors discuss available data on SRS in BAVMs and highlight the need for future studies on the radiobiology of BAVMs, especially in regard to biomarker detection for tracking SRS response during the latency period. Insights from future investigations in BAVM may not only prove important for the development of novel therapies and relevant biomarkers for BAVM, but could also potentially benefit a variety of other disorders involving new vessel formation in the CNS, including stroke, tumors, moyamoya disease, and other cerebrovascular malformations.

RADIOSURGERY TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRST HEMORRHAGE FROM BRAIN ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS

Neurosurgery ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keisuke Maruyama ◽  
Masahiro Shin ◽  
Masao Tago ◽  
Junji Kishimoto ◽  
Akio Morita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Hazard Ratio ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Risk Of Hemorrhage ◽  
Observation Period

Abstract OBJECTIVE It remains unclear whether or not and to what extent stereotactic radiosurgery can reduce the risk of first intracranial hemorrhage from brain arteriovenous malformations. METHODS We performed a retrospective observational investigation of 500 patients with arteriovenous malformations who were treated with gamma knife radiosurgery. The risk of first hemorrhage was analyzed using the Cox proportional-hazards model with age at radiosurgery and angiographic obliteration included as time-dependent covariates. Three periods were defined: from birth to radiosurgery (before radiosurgery); from radiosurgery to angiographic obliteration (latency period); and from angiographic obliteration to end of the follow-up period (after obliteration). RESULTS Hemorrhage was documented before radiosurgery in 318 patients (median observation period, 30.0 yr), during the latency period in 11 patients (median observation period, 2.2 yr), and after obliteration in two patients (median observation period, 5.5 yr). Compared with the period before radiosurgery, the risk of hemorrhage decreased by 86% after obliteration (hazard ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.03–0.55; P = 0.005), whereas the reduction observed during the latency period was not statistically significant (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.31–1.04; P = 0.07). Irrespective of obliteration, the risk of hemorrhage decreased by 62% after radiosurgery (hazard ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.22–0.67; P = 0.001). Similar results were observed when the 33 patients who had undergone previous therapy were excluded from the analysis. CONCLUSION Stereotactic radiosurgery significantly reduces the risk of first hemorrhage from brain arteriovenous malformations. The extent of the decrease might be greater if angiography indicates the evidence of obliteration.

Multimodal cerebral arteriovenous malformation treatment: a 12-year experience and comparison of key outcomes to ARUBA

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (6) ◽  
pp. 1792-1801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Pulli ◽  
Paul H. Chapman ◽  
Christopher S. Ogilvy ◽  
Aman B. Patel ◽  
Christopher J. Stapleton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Brain Avms

OBJECTIVECurative treatment of unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remains controversial after the only randomized controlled trial, A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (ARUBA), was halted prematurely because interim analysis revealed superiority of the medical management group. In contrast, meta-analyses of retrospective cohorts suggest that intervention is much safer than was found in ARUBA.METHODSThe authors retrospectively analyzed 318 consecutive adult patients with brain AVMs treated at their institution with embolization, surgery, and/or proton beam radiosurgery. Analysis was performed in 142 ARUBA-eligible patients (baseline modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0–1, no history of hemorrhage), and results were compared to primary and secondary outcomes from ARUBA, as well as to natural history cohorts.RESULTSThe annualized stroke rate (hemorrhagic or ischemic) in this cohort was 1.8%, 4.9% in the first 12 months and 0.8% after the first 12 months, which was lower than in natural history studies and the ARUBA medical management arm (p = 0.001). The primary ARUBA endpoint of symptomatic stroke was reached in 13 patients (9.2%), which compares favorably to the ARUBA intervention arm (39.6%, p = 0.0001) and is similar to the ARUBA medical management arm (9.2%, p = 1.0). The secondary ARUBA endpoint (mRS score ≥ 2 at 5 years of follow-up) was reached in 14.3% of patients, compared to 40.5% in the ARUBA intervention arm (p = 0.002) and 16.7% in the ARUBA medical management arm (p = 0.6).CONCLUSIONSThis multimodal approach to the selection and treatment of patients with brain AVMs yields good clinical outcomes with key safety endpoints (stroke, death, and mRS score 0–1) better than the ARUBA intervention arm and similar to the ARUBA medical arm at 5 years of follow-up. Results compare favorably to natural history cohorts at longer follow-up times. This suggests that tertiary care centers with integrated programs, expertise in patient selection, and individualized treatment approaches may allow for better clinical outcomes than reported in ARUBA. It supports current registry studies and merits consideration of future randomized controlled trials in patients with brain AVMs.

The rs9509 polymorphism of MMP-9 is associated with risk of hemorrhage in brain arteriovenous malformations

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 1287-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Sun ◽  
Huijia Qiu ◽  
Fan Zhao ◽  
Nidan Qiao ◽  
Weiwei Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Risk Of Hemorrhage

Endovascular Advances for Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

Neurosurgery ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S74-S82 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Webster Crowley ◽  
Andrew F. Ducruet ◽  
Cameron G. McDougall ◽  
Felipe C. Albuquerque
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Cerebral Avms ◽  
Brain Avms ◽  
The Brain ◽  
The Way

Abstract Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain represent unique challenges for treating physicians. Although these lesions have traditionally been treated with surgical resection alone, advancements in endovascular and radiosurgical therapies have greatly expanded the treatment options for patients harboring brain AVMs. Perhaps no subspecialty within neurosurgery has seen as many advancements over a relatively short period of time as the endovascular field. A number of these endovascular innovations have been designed primarily for cerebral AVMs, and even those advancements that are not particular to AVMs have resulted in substantial changes to the way cerebral AVMs are treated. These advancements have enabled the embolization of cerebral AVMs to be performed either as a stand-alone treatment, or in conjunction with surgery or radiosurgery. Perhaps nothing has impacted the treatment of brain AVMs as substantially as the development of liquid embolics, most notably Onyx and n-butyl cyanoacrylate. However, of near-equal impact has been the innovations seen in the catheters that help deliver the liquid embolics to the AVMs. These developments include flow-directed catheters, balloon-tipped catheters, detachable-tipped catheters, and distal access catheters. This article aims to review some of the more substantial advancements in the endovascular treatment of brain AVMs and to discuss the literature surrounding the expanding indications for endovascular treatment of these lesions.

Natural History of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

Neurosurgery ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1402
Author(s):  
Aki Laakso ◽  
Reza Dashti ◽  
Seppo Juvela ◽  
Kristjan Väärt ◽  
Mika Niemela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals Complication Analysis of 469 Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Treated with N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Li ◽  
B. Fang ◽  
X. Y. He ◽  
C. Z. Duan ◽  
Q. J. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Endovascular Procedures ◽  
Endovascular Embolization ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Embolization Therapy ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Ischemic Complications ◽  
Brain Avms ◽  
Special Strategy ◽  
Low Rate

We independently assessed the frequency, severity and determinants of neurological deficits after endovascular embolization with NBCA of brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) to have a better basis for making treatment decisions. All the charts of 469 BAVMs patients who underwent embolization with NBCA were reviewed. We analyzed the complications and their relation to angiographic features. The 469 patients were treated with 1108 endovascular procedures. Each met one to eight times, average 2.3 times. Eleven patients showed treatment-related complications, including four haemorrhagic and seven ischemic complications. Of these 11 cases, two died, two had persistent disabling deficits, and another seven suffered transient neurological deficits. Our finding suggests a low rate of disabling treatment complications for embolization of brain AVMs with NBCA in this center. The management of AVM patients who have high risk of embolization therapy should be treated by special strategy.

scholarly journals Cyst formation after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain arteriovenous malformations: a systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 128 (5) ◽  
pp. 1354-1363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeel Ilyas ◽  
Ching-Jen Chen ◽  
Dale Ding ◽  
Panagiotis Mastorakos ◽  
Davis G. Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
The Mean

OBJECTIVECyst formation can occasionally occur after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Given the limited data regarding post-SRS cyst formation in patients with AVM, the time course, natural history, and management of this delayed complication are poorly defined. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the incidence, time course, and optimal management of cyst formation after SRS for AVMs.METHODSA literature review was performed using PubMed to identify studies reporting cyst formation in AVM patients treated with SRS. Baseline and outcomes data, including the incidence and management of post-SRS cysts, were extracted from each study that reported follow-up duration. The mean time to cyst formation was calculated from the subset of studies that reported individual patient data.RESULTSBased on pooled data from 22 studies comprising the incidence analysis, the overall rate of post-SRS cyst formation was 3.0% (78/2619 patients). Among the 26 post-SRS cyst patients with available AVM obliteration data, nidal obliteration was achieved in 20 (76.9%). Of the 64 cyst patients with available symptomatology and management data, 21 (32.8%) were symptomatic; 21 cysts (32.8%) were treated with surgical intervention, whereas the remaining 43 (67.2%) were managed conservatively. Based on a subset of 19 studies reporting individual time-to-cyst-formation data from 63 patients, the mean latency period to post-SRS cyst formation was 78 months (6.5 years).CONCLUSIONSCyst formation is an uncommon complication after SRS for AVMs, with a relatively long latency period. The majority of post-SRS cysts are asymptomatic and can be managed conservatively, although enlarging or symptomatic cysts may require surgical intervention. Long-term follow-up of AVM patients is crucial to the appropriate diagnosis and management of post-SRS cysts.

scholarly journals Detectability of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations with CT Angiography in the Chuvash Republic

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-169
Author(s):  
M. N. Mikhaylova ◽  
O. Yu. Kostrova ◽  
L. M. Merkulova ◽  
G. Yu. Struchko ◽  
A. Yu. Semenov
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
Carotid Arteries ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Hemorrhagic Complications ◽  
Chuvash Republic ◽  
Brain Avms ◽  
Internal Carotid Arteries

Objective. To estimate the detection rate of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the Chuvash Republic and their characteristics.Material and methods. The results of CT angiographies performed at the Unit of Radiation Diagnosis in 2014–2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Results. Over 4 years, brain AVMs were first detected in 29 patients (5–9 cases per year); of them 59% were men and 41% were women. The peak detectability occurred at the age of 31–40 years. AVMs were more frequently localized in the frontal and temporal regions. The high risk of surgery for AVMs according to the grading scheme by R. Spetzler and N. Martin (1986) occurred in 10% of cases. Besides AVMs, cerebral vascular aneurysms were detected in 14% of patients.Conclusion. Small AVMs with a low risk of surgery are more common; however, there is a higher risk of hemorrhagic complications. The risk of cerebral hemorrhage is higher when AVMs are fed by the internal carotid arteries and drained into the deep veins. The likelihood of strokes in AVMs is 27% higher in patients with the open circle of Willis.

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