[Progressive neurological deficits in cerebral arteriovenous malformations]

Progressive neurological deficits are uncommonly associated with cerebral arteriovenous malformations. We present 25 cases (3.54%) from our series of 705 patients treated by radiosurgery. Common characteristics were preferentially: large cerebral arteriovenous malformations, arterial steal, arterial recruitment, venous reflux and deep location. After multivariate analysis, only arterial steal was significantly associated with neurological deficits. Course after treatment was variable and correlated with cerebral arteriovenous malformations regression. Different pathophysiologic hypotheses and their therapeutic consequences are discussed.