Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of brain arteriovenous malformations and in the evaluation of the results of stereotactic radiosurgery (review)
Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are quite rare, but they are dangerous pathology due to the risk of rupture and intracranial hemorrhage, which leads to disability. This review enlights the epidemiology of AVM and their symptoms, current methods of diagnostics and treatment as well as prognosis and treatment outcomes. Nowadays microsurgical removal, endovascular embolization, stereotactic radiosurgery and combination of these methods are used in clinical practice for AVMs treatment. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a highly effective non-invasive technique resulting in high degree of AVM obliteration with low risk of complications. The results of magnetic resonance imaging usage in assessing the degree of obliteration and the development of post-radiation complications are presented in this article. The optimization of magnetic resonance imaging algorithm is necessary for determination of statistically significant factors affecting the obliteration process.