Incident Hemorrhage Risk of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Located in the Arterial Borderzones (original) (raw)

Incident Hemorrhage Risk of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Located in the Arterial Borderzones

Background and Purpose —We sought to assess the relative risk of hemorrhagic presentation of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) located in the arterial borderzone territories. Methods —The 464 consecutive, prospectively enrolled patients from the New York AVM Databank were analyzed. AVM borderzone location was coded positive when the malformation was supplied by branches of at least 2 of the major circle of Willis arteries (anterior, middle, and/or posterior cerebral arteries). AVMs fed by branches of only 1 major pial or any other single artery served as a comparison group. Clinical presentation (diagnostic event) was categorized as (1) intracranial hemorrhage, proven by brain imaging, or (2) seizure, focal neurological deficit, headache, or other event with no signs of AVM hemorrhage on brain imaging. Results —In 48% (n=222) of the patients, AVMs were located in the arterial borderzone territories; in 52% (n=242) a non-borderzone location was found. Hemorrhage was the presen...