New concepts in adult brain arteriovenous malformations

Brain arteriovenous malformations are currently attracting increasing atten tion among clinicians as modern brain imaging techniques facilitate both di agnostic and follow-up evaluation. Their frequent presentation in young ind ividuals, at times with flagrant clinical effects caused by cerebral hemorr hages or seizure disorders, keeps clinicians alert to any improvement in tr eatment strategies. Recent technical advances in surgical, endovascular, an d radiation therapy add to the constantly accumulating data on clinical fea tures, natural course, and treatment outcome in adult arteriovenous malform ation patients. This review focuses on new concepts in arteriovenous malfor mation etiology, classification, treatment, and study approaches. Curr Opin Neurol 13:63-67. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.