HEMORRHAGE IN INTRACEREBRAL ARTERIOVENOUS-MALFORMATIONS - DETECTION WITH MRI AND COMPARISON WITH CLINICAL HISTORY

Fifty-one patients with 59 angiographically proven cerebral arterioven ous malformations (AVMs) were examinded by high-field MRI to detect bl ood breakdown products. Results were correlated with the history of in tracranial bleeding. Evidence of previous episodes of haemorrhage was seen in 10 of 12 patients (83.3%) with verified bleeding, in 4 of 9 pa tients (44.4%) with symptoms which could suggest bleeding and in 6 of 30 patients (20%) with negative histories. Because of the known reblee ding rate and the increased risk of associated complications, identifi cation of the subgroup who had had haemorrhage and should therefore be considered for surgery may be beneficial. MRI can make a contribution to management by demonstrating prior haemorrhage in patients with an inadequate clinical history.