Interventional neuroradiology for the treatment of inaccessible arterio-venous malformations

Embolization of cerebral arterio-venous malformations (AVM) has been performed at the Department of Neuroradiology of Verona in 136 patients with a total of 310 procedures. The complication rate was 16%. In most of the cases embolization was followed by either operative removal of the AVM or by radiosurgery. In a group of 38 embolized patients, who refused operation or radiosurgery, rebleeding occurred 7 times (18%), but only in patients who already had bleedings before embolization. Indications and techniques of embolization are described and discussed.