The value of intraoperative angiography for surgical treatment of cerebralarteriovenous malformations in eloquent brain areas

Intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) allows intraoperative assessment of outcome of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM). This s tudy reports on 21 patients with AVMs in eloquent areas of the brain extirp ated between July 1995 to March 1998. Extirpation was always followed by in traoperative DSA. Intraoperative angiography disclosed an occult residual n idus in 4 cases (19%). Complete extirpation of the AVM was achieved in ail cases. Following surgery the neurological condition improved in 15 cases (7 1%), remained unchanged in 5 (24%), and worsened in 1. There were no second ary postoperative haemorrhages, nor complications related to the angiograph y. These results indicate that intraoperative DSA should be considered in t he course of surgical treatment of cerebral AVMs in eloquent areas of the b rain.