What is an AVM?
A brain AVM is an abnormal connection between the cerebral arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system, and located within the brain parenchyma. Although many AVMs are asymptomatic, AVMs in the brain can cause headache, bleeding, and lead to other serious neurologic problems, such as seizures. AVMs can be treated endovascularly with embolization using liquid embolics, such as Onyx and n-BCA. Alternatively, they can be treated by open surgery, or by gamma knife radiosurgery. Sometimes these lesions are treated by a combination of all three of these therapies.
AVM before and after treatment
