Multimodality management of cerebral arteriovenous malformations

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain are diverse lesions that vary widely in location, size, and complexity. Treatment options for AVMs are correspondingly complex. Complete elimination of an AVM is required to protect patients from future hemorrhage. Decisions about whether to treat and, if so, how to treat these lesions depend on the characteristics of the patient and the specific characteristics of the AVMs. The characteristics of AVMs are often summarized through grading systems. Some AVMs can be managed conservatively, whereas others can be managed with microsurgical resection, radiosurgical ablation, or endovascular embolization, either individually or in combination. Some AVMs may also be treated with partial therapy to reduce the risk of hemorrhage or to ameliorate symptoms. In this chapter, we review the key factors that influence whether and how to manage AVMs with multimodality treatment.