Aneurysms related to cerebral arteriovenous malformations: superselective angiographic assessment in 58 patients.

PURPOSE To report the comprehensive superselective angiographic characteristics of aneurysms associated with cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

METHOD One hundred consecutive patients referred for cerebral arteriovenous malformation embolization underwent preembolization superselective angiography. Superselective angiograms were obtained after microcatheterization of arteriovenous malformation pedicles, and assessed for number and location of aneurysms related to the malformation. A chi 2 test was conducted to correlate these parameters with the onset of intracranial hemorrhage.

RESULTS Aneurysms were demonstrated in 58 of 100 patients. Single aneurysms were found in 24 patients and multiple aneurysms in 34. Presence and number of aneurysms were found to correlate significantly with a clinical presentation of hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION Superselective angiography was found to be of paramount importance in elucidating the precise and detailed angioarchitecture of brain arteriovenous malformations.