Evaluation of surgical treatment for intracranial arteriovenous malformations

The main purpose of the treatment of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is complete obliteration of the nidus to prevent primary or recurrent intracranial hemorrhage and protect neurological functions maximally. Currently, microsurgical resection, endovascular embolization, or stereotactic radiosurgery are the most commonly used therapies which are utilized either alone or in combination. This study will discuss the pros and cons of the three therapeutic methods of AVMs in order to determine the optimal treatment. The choice of a multimodality treatment should follow the principle of improving the cure rate and avoiding complications as much as possible.