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Updated: Sep 28, 2026
Comprehensive Endovascular and Open Surgical Management of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
Published on: October 20, 2017
Functional MRI in symptomatic proliferative angiopathies
D Ducreux1, M C Petit-Lacour, K Marsot-Dupuch
1Department of Neuroradiology, CHU de Bicêtre, Paris XI University, 78 rue du Général Leclerc, 94270 Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. denis.ducreux@bct.ap-hop-paris.fr
Abstract:
Seizures, the main expression of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can be difficult to control medically. We studied fMRI in correlation with clinical findings cerebral activation clusters patterns in relation with singular AVMs (proliferative angiopathy). We carried out blood oxygen-level dependent functional MRI (fMRI) in seven patients with language problems due to capillary ectasia with verbal fluency and repetition language tasks in box-car paradigms. fMRI maps were calculated with cross-correlation coefficients and superimposed on brain anatomy. Five patients had perimalformative and/or contralateral areas of ipsi- and contralateral activation clusters redistribution. One patient who underwent fMRI after a severe focal post-ictal deficit had total hemisphere contralateral activation clusters redistribution.
Insights
Seizures from cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are hard to treat. Functional MRI (fMRI) revealed altered brain activation patterns in patients with AVMs, suggesting new ways to understand these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) often manifest as medically refractory seizures.
- Understanding the neurophysiological underpinnings of AVMs is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activation patterns in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
- To correlate these patterns with clinical findings and seizure control.
Main Methods:
- Blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) fMRI was performed on seven patients with AVMs and language difficulties.
- Patients underwent verbal fluency and repetition tasks using box-car paradigms.
- fMRI maps were generated using cross-correlation coefficients and superimposed on anatomical brain scans.
Main Results:
- Five patients exhibited redistribution of ipsilateral and/or contralateral activation clusters around the AVM or in contralateral areas.
- One patient with a severe post-ictal deficit showed a total hemispheric contralateral activation cluster redistribution.
- These findings suggest altered functional brain organization in AVM patients.
Conclusions:
- Functional MRI reveals significant alterations in brain activation patterns in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations.
- Activation cluster redistribution may be a compensatory mechanism or a consequence of the AVM.
- fMRI offers insights into the neurobiology of AVMs and their associated neurological deficits.
