Microvascular Embolization of Arteriovenous Malformations: Predicting Success by Cerebral Angiography

Abstract

A retrospective and prospective analysis of cerebral arteriograms in 28 patients with intracerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was undertaken to identify those parameters that predict the efficacy of small silicone particle embolization as a method of treatment. It was noted that when the number and caliber of the arterial feeding vessels were greater than the number and caliber of the draining veins the embolization was successful (15 of 16 patients). On the contrary, when the number and caliber of the draining veins exceeded that of the arteries the embolization failed (seven of seven patients). In four of five patients with nearly equal ratios, the embolization reduced the flow but not the size of the malformation.