Artificial intelligence-based automatic nidus segmentation of cerebral arteriovenous malformation on time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate nidus segmentation and quantification have long been challenging but important tasks in the clinical management of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation (CAVM). However, there are still dilemmas in nidus segmentation, such as difficulty defining the demarcation of the nidus, observer-dependent variation and time consumption. The aim of this study isto develop an artificial intelligence model to automatically segment the nidus on Time-Of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography (TOF-MRA) images. METHODS: A total of 92patients with CAVM who underwent both TOF-MRA and DSA examinations were enrolled. Two neurosurgeonsmanually segmented the nidusonTOF-MRA images,which were regarded as theground-truth reference. AU-Net-basedAImodelwascreatedfor automatic nidus detectionand segmentationonTOF-MRA images. RESULTS: The meannidus volumes of the AI segmentationmodeland the ground truthwere 5.427 ± 4.996 and 4.824 ± 4.567 mL,respectively. The meandifference in the nidus volume between the two groups was0.603 ± 1.514 mL,which wasnot statisticallysignificant (P = 0.693). The DSC,precision and recallofthe testset were 0.754 ± 0.074, 0.713 ± 0.102 and 0.816 ± 0.098, respectively. The linear correlation coefficient of the nidus volume betweenthesetwo groupswas 0.988, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: The performance of the AI segmentationmodel is moderate consistent with that of manual segmentation. This AI model has great potential in clinical settings, such as preoperative planning, treatment efficacy evaluation, riskstratification and follow-up.

Use of levosimendan in hemodynamic management of heart failure in two neonates with intracranial arteriovenous shunts: a case series.

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamic status of newborns with intracranial arteriovenous shunts (AVSs) may be extremely complex. Mini-invasive hemodynamic monitoring through innovative techniques such as Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Pressure Recording Analytical Method (PRAM) may help in understanding hemodynamics in newborns with AVSs. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer and inodilator, and it is known to improve ventricular function, but its use in newborns is limited. In our cases, we evaluated the effect of levosimendan on hemodynamics through NIRS and PRAM. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report the cases of two neonates with intracranial arteriovenous shunts, in whom we used levosimendan to manage cardiac failure refractory to conventional treatment. Levosimendan was used at a dosage of 0.1 mcg/kg/min for 72 h. Combined use of NIRS and PRAM helped in real-time monitoring of hemodynamic effects; in particular, levosimendan determined significant improvement in myocardium contractility as well as a reduction of heart rate. CONCLUSION: In two neonatal cases of AVSs, levosimendan led to an overall hemodynamic stabilization, documented by the combination of NIRS and PRAM. Our results suggest introducing levosimendan as a second-line treatment in cases of severe cardiac dysfunction due to AVSs without improvement using standard treatment strategies. Future prospective and larger studies are highly warranted.

CyberKnife based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy as an upfront treatment for cerebral arteriovenous malformation.

BACKGROUND: To explore the therapeutic outcomes of CyberKnife based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (CKFRT) for patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM). METHODS: Between January 2008 and October 2020, 45 patients underwent CKFRT for cerebral AVMs as a first treatment. The delineation of AVM targets included AVM nidus. The mean target volume was 4.07 cm3, and 9 lesions (20%) were larger than 10.0 cm3. The mean marginal dose was 24 Gy (range, 20-35 Gy). CKFRT was delivered in median 3 fractions (range, 2 âˆ¼ 5 fractions). AVM obliteration following CKFRT was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or angiography. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 47 (5-148) months, complete obliteration and partial obliteration of AVM after CKFRT were obtained in 23 (51%) and 13 (29%) patients, respectively. Median time to complete obliteration was 39 (15-63) months. The cumulative probability of complete obliteration rate at 3 years was 47%. Complete obliteration rate of AVM was associated with Radiosurgery-based AVM score, which was consisted of AVM volume, patients age, and AVM location. One (2%) patient had hemorrhage during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: CKFRT is an effective primary treatment for patients with cerebral AVMs with a low hemorrhage risk.

Oscillatory shear stress modulates Notch-mediated endothelial mesenchymal plasticity in cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (cAVM) are a significant cause of intracranial hemorrhagic stroke and brain damage. The arteriovenous junctions in AVM nidus are known to have hemodynamic disturbances such as altered shear stress, which could lead to endothelial dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms coupling shear stress and endothelial dysfunction in cAVMs are poorly understood. We speculated that disturbed blood flow in artery-vein junctions activates Notch receptors and promotes endothelial mesenchymal plasticity during cAVM formation. METHODS: We investigated the expression profile of endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and cell adhesion markers, as well as activated Notch receptors, in 18 human cAVM samples and 15 control brain tissues, by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical evaluation. Employing a combination of a microfluidic system, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, as well as invasion and inhibitor assays, the effects of various shear stress conditions on Notch-induced EndMT and invasive potential of human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/d3) were analyzed. RESULTS: We found evidence for EndMT and enhanced expression of activated Notch intracellular domain (NICD3 and NICD4) in human AVM nidus samples. The expression of transmembrane adhesion receptor integrin α9/ß1 is significantly reduced in cAVM nidal vessels. Cell-cell adhesion proteins such as VE-cadherin and N-cadherin were differentially expressed in AVM nidus compared with control brain tissues. Using well-characterized hCMECs, we show that altered fluid shear stress steers Notch3 nuclear translocation and promotes SNAI1/2 expression and nuclear localization. Oscillatory flow downregulates integrin α9/ß1 and VE-cadherin expression, while N-cadherin expression and endothelial cell invasiveness are augmented. Gamma-secretase inhibitor RO4929097, and to a lesser level DAPT, prevent the mesenchymal transition and invasiveness of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells exposed to oscillatory fluid flow. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides, for the first time, evidence for the role of oscillatory shear stress in mediating the EndMT process and dysregulated expression of cell adhesion molecules, especially multifunctional integrin α9/ß1 in human cAVM nidus. Concomitantly, our findings indicate the potential use of small-molecular inhibitors such as RO4929097 in the less-invasive therapeutic management of cAVMs.

Management of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: A Review.

Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVM) are vascular malformations of the brain affecting all ages. The optimum management strategy is essentially devoid of high-quality evidence and is highly nuanced and embedded in local customs. This study summarizes the frequently employed management strategies, drawing conclusions on the utility of each method of treatment and delving into controversies surrounding them. A literature search on PubMed and Medline was done on January 3rd, 2022. 11,767 articles were found, and abstracts were reviewed. Full-text review of 153 articles led to chapters from three books and 71 articles incorporated into a summative discussion. Spetzler-Ponce (S-P) Class A patients may be offered surgery if they are good surgical candidates and have a good number of high-quality years of life left. The exception is diffuse Spetzler-Martin (S-M) grade 2 in a patient older than 40 years: radiosurgery for unruptured and embolization for ruptured. S-P Class B may be offered surgery if a compact nidus or if younger than 40 years. If diffuse or age greater than 40, radiosurgery may be preferred if the Pollock-Flickinger score is less than 2.5. For the remainder of S-P Class B, conservative management may be preferred. S-P Class C is generally not treated unless young or those patients with poorly controlled seizures affecting their quality of life are willing to risk permanent neurological deficits. While the quality of studies is generally high, the level of evidence is concerning with only one randomized controlled trial (RCT). Most research output hails from high-income countries, i.e., perhaps not universally applicable to all settings owing to possible genetic, environmental, and resource differences. More research is needed: large volume studies in the pregnant population, validation of scoring systems in pediatric age groups, clinical trials focused on combination multi-staged treatment modalities, and studies originating from the developing world.

Quantitative evaluation of the hemodynamic differences between ruptured and unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformations using angiographic parametric imaging-derived radiomics features.

PURPOSE: Imaging features of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are mainly interpreted according to demographic and qualitative anatomical characteristics. This study aimed to use angiographic parametric imaging (API)-derived radiomics features to explore whether these features extracted from digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were associated with the hemorrhagic presentation of AVMs. METHODS: Patients with AVM were retrospectively evaluated. Among them, 80% were randomly assigned to a training dataset, and the remaining 20% were assigned to an independent test dataset. Radiomics features were extracted from DSA by API. Then, informative features were selected from radiomics features and clinical features using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm. A model was constructed based on the selected features to classify the dichotomous hemorrhagic presentation in the training dataset. The model performance was evaluated in the test dataset with confusion matrix-related metrics. RESULTS: A total of 529 consecutive patients with AVMs between July 2011 and December 2020 were included in this study. After being selected by the LASSO algorithm and analyzed by multivariable logistic regression, three clinical features, namely, age (p = 0.01), nidus size (p < 0.001), and venous drainage patterns (p < 0.001), and four radiomics features were used to construct a model in the training dataset. On the independent test dataset, the model demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 0.852, 0.844, 0.881, 0.809, and 0.849, respectively. CONCLUSION: The radiomics features extracted from DSA by API could be potential indicators for the hemorrhagic presentation of AVMs.

A missed case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: A case report.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by abnormal blood vessel formation. When an abnormal vascular architecture affects the lungs and central nervous system, serious complications can occur. We report a missed case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and cerebral arteriovenous malformations. A 22-year-old Chinese female was taken to the emergency room because of unconsciousness. Emergency head contrast-enhanced computed tomography and transthoracic contrast echocardiography showed that she had cerebral arteriovenous malformations and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. The patient experienced multiple spontaneous epistaxis since childhood, for which she was treated at a local hospital for a brief period. Her mother also had pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. The patient was diagnosed with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia according to the consensus Curaçao diagnostic criteria and eventually died of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The case report highlights the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Given that hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is frequently undiagnosed, increasing the physician's awareness of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia can play an important role in the timely diagnosis and treatment of these patients.

Vascular intracranial malformations and dementia: An under-estimated cause and clinical correlation. Clinical note.

Cerebrovascular malformations (CVMs) such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) represent a possible source of intracranial hemorrhage, but these malformations can also manifest with neurologic disorders secondary to ischemic penumbra from vascular steal. In the latter case, the clinical manifestations are less obvious and characteristic, and may include a varied clinical spectrum ranging from focal deficits to generalized malfunction of the brain parenchyma resulting in dementia. Dementias secondary to CVMs constitute a probably underestimated subpopulation of patients of great interest because they present with devastating but potentially reversible cognitive impairment. We examined the pertinent literature regarding the clinical manifestations of CVMs characterized by cognitive impairment and describe the distinctive clinical features. Our results confirm that cognitive impairment is one of the clinical manifestations of CVMs and is a frequently misrecognized and often late-diagnosed cause of reversible dementia.

Clinical Characteristics and Multimodality Therapy Outcomes in 304 Pediatric Patients with Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations.

BACKGROUND: Clinical follow-up data of pediatric patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are limited. This study investigated the characteristics of AVMs in children and analyzed the clinical outcomes of multimodality therapy in pediatric patients with AVMs at a single center. METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients diagnosed with AVMs at our institution between August 2008 and June 2018. Data on demographic characteristics, AVM features, and clinical outcomes were collected. Patients aged <18 years at admission were defined as children. RESULTS: Overall, 1009 patients with AVMs were included, with 304 (30.1%) patients aged <18 years. AVMs in pediatric patients were more likely to present with intracranial hemorrhage, mostly located in deep areas of the brain. A small nidus, exclusively deep drainage, and deep AVM location were associated with hemorrhage in children; Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with ruptured AVMs had a higher risk of developing a follow-up hemorrhage than those with unruptured AVMs. Among 290 children who were followed up, the multivariate regression analysis showed that a higher pretreatment modified Rankin Scale score, deep AVM location, and conservative treatment were significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric patients, AVMs were more likely to present with intracranial hemorrhage than that in adults. Hemorrhagic presentation in children was associated with a small nidus, exclusively deep drainage, and deep AVM location. Pediatric patients with ruptured AVMs had significantly higher risks of follow-up hemorrhage than those with unruptured AVMs. Our clinical results suggest that nonconservative treatment is better for pediatric patients with AVMs.

Curative Embolization for Pediatric Spetzler-Martin Grade III Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations.

OBJECTIVE: Spetzler-Martin (SM) grade III arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) represent a gray zone due to their high variability in location, size, and angioarchitecture. In addition, there is a lack of information on curative embolization in the pediatric population, especially in this subgroup of lesions. Here we present our experience treating grade III AVMs by curative embolization in pediatric patients. METHODS: Clinical and angiographic data from pediatric patients with grade III SM AVMs were retrospectively collected between 2011 and 2020 in a referral institution. We grouped the AVMs into subtypes according to size (S), venous drainage (V), and eloquence (E) and obtained subtypes: IIIA (S1V1E1), IIIB (S2V1E0), IIIC (S2V0E1), and IIID (S3V0E0). RESULTS: A total of 61 embolization sessions were performed in 35 pediatric patients. There were 25 females (64%), and the mean age was 12.2 years (range 5-18). Complete angiographic occlusion was achieved in 16 patients (47%). In 13 patients (37%), the AVM was occluded with a single embolization session and most (12/13) had small lesions (IIIA subtype). Among the 19 patients with incomplete occlusion, most (58%) had large lesions (IIIB, IIIC, and IIID). Large AVMs (IIIB, IIIC, and IIID) underwent 36 sessions; however, only 3 patients (21%) achieved complete occlusion in 11 sessions. Eight intraoperative complications (13% procedures) occurred mainly in ruptured AVMs (7/8) and eloquent zones (7/8). CONCLUSIONS: Curative embolization for SM grade III AVMs in children carries a high complication rate, especially in small, ruptured, and eloquent lesions. In addition, acceptable immediate complete angiographic occlusion rates were achieved, especially in small AVMs.

A novel endoglin mutation in a family with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a case report.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasis (HHT) is an autosomal dominant vascular disease, and approximately 80% of all HHT cases are caused by gene mutation. In this report, we analyzed the case of an 11-year-old girl who had intracranial bleeding when she was 7 years old. Her brain computed tomography (CT) scans and craniocerebral angiography results revealed that she had multiple cerebral arteriovenous malformations (CAVMs). Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) located in a segment of the left lung. This patient's primary diagnosis was of CAVMs and PAVMs. Both cerebral vascular embolization therapy and interventional treatment for PAVMs were performed to treat these respective conditions. The operations were successful and the patient's prognosis was good. To confirm the patient's diagnosis and the cause of her conditions, peripheral blood was collected from her and her family for whole-exome sequencing (WES). Sanger sequencing was used to verify these results and STRUM software was used to predict the presence of mutant proteins. We found a new mutation of the endoglin (ENG) gene present in this family; this mutation is known as c.1466del (p.Gln489Argfs*2). The patient's mother was a carrier of this heterozygous mutation. STRUM software confirmed that the configuration of the ENG protein p.Gln489Argfs2 site changed with this mutation. We believe this c.1466del (p.Gln489Argfs*2) mutation affects ENG protein function, and the resultant ENG protein dysfunction leads to HHT. When a child has multiple vascular malformation, HHT should be considered as a primary diagnosis.

High Output Cardiovascular Physiology and Outcomes in Fetal Diagnosis of Vein of Galen Malformation.

Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is a rare anomaly associated with poor outcomes from high output cardiac failure and neurologic complications. Studies addressing fetal cardiovascular status and outcomes in this population are limited. A single-center retrospective review was conducted on patients with a prenatal diagnosis of VGAM who underwent a fetal echocardiogram between January 2015 and July 2019. Fetal echocardiographic data, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and outcomes were collected. Nine fetuses [median gestational age at echocardiogram 34 (1.1) weeks] were included. All patients had superior vena cava dilation and reversal of diastolic flow in the transverse aortic arch. Median cardiothoracic (CT) ratio was 0.39 (0.09). Right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction was present in 66% and 11% fetuses, respectively. Four out of five patients that underwent postnatal endovascular neurosurgical interventions at our center were alive at follow-up (mean 2.7 years). Of the non-survivors (n = 5), 3 received comfort care because of severe brain damage and died in the neonatal period. Non-survivors more commonly had > mild tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (40% vs. 25%) and > mild RV dilation (60% vs. 25%). Combined cardiac index (CCI) was higher in non-survivors when compared to survivors (672.7 vs. 530.2 ml/kg/min, p = 0.016). Fetuses with significant parenchymal damage on brain MRI tended to have a higher CCI than those without (979.8 vs. 605.0 ml/kg/min, p = 0.047). RV dysfunction, TR and elevated CCI are more commonly seen in non-survivors with VGAM. A higher CCI is seen in those deemed untreatable due to significant parenchymal volume loss. Future multicenter studies are needed to assess for prenatal prediction of outcomes in this high-risk population.

Early Outcomes and Complications of Endovascular Treatment of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations in Pediatric Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are the commonest cause of hemorrhagic stroke in children. Endovascular embolization is a feasible treatment modality, but cure rates are heterogenous from one series to another. We aimed to describe the immediate obliteration rates and periprocedural complications of embolization of pediatric AVMs. METHODS: Between 2011 and 2019, participants below 18 years of age with AVMs treated by the same neurosurgeon at a single center were included. The clinical features, immediate angiographic results, and periprocedural complications were retrospectively collected from the clinical records. RESULTS: Thirty-four embolization sessions were performed on 20 children (12 females with a mean age of 13). Intracranial hemorrhage was the most common presentation (75%), and the majority were frontal (30%) and basal ganglia (30%) lesions. An immediate complete angiographic obliteration was achieved in 9 patients (45%) with low-grade lesions (Spetzler-Martin grade I and II). NBCA was the most common embolic agent used (52.9%). Complications were reported in 3 (8.8%) out of 34 sessions. Two of them were intraoperative perforations with clinical consequences. A slight cortical hemorrhage during the procedure was observed in 1 patient without clinical repercussions. DISCUSSION: This single-surgeon single-center experience suggests that endovascular treatment is a safe and efficient treatment for pediatric AVMs. Pediatric prognostic scores for a suitable selection of candidates are needed. Further studies are required to validate these results.

Quantification of hemodynamics of cerebral arteriovenous malformations after stereotactic radiosurgery using 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is used to treat cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). However, early evaluation of efficacy is difficult as structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) often does not demonstrate appreciable changes within the first 6 months. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI to quantify hemodynamic changes after SRS as early as 2 months. This was a retrospective observational study, which included 14 patients with both pre-SRS and post-SRS imaging obtained at multiple time points from 1 to 27 months after SRS. A 3T MRI Scanner was used to obtain T2 single-shot fast spin echo, time-of-flight MRA, and postcontrast 4D flow with three-dimensional velocity encoding between 150 and 200 cm/s. Post-hoc two-dimensional cross-sectional flow was measured for the dominant feeding artery, the draining vein, and the corresponding contralateral artery as a control. Measurements were performed by two independent observers, and reproducibility was assessed. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare differences in flow, circumference, and pulsatility between the feeding artery and the contralateral artery both before and after SRS; and differences in nidus size and flow and circumference of the feeding artery and draining vein before and after SRS. Arterial flow (L/min) decreased in the primary feeding artery (mean: 0.1 ± 0.07 vs. 0.3 ± 0.2; p < 0.05) and normalized in comparison to the contralateral artery (mean: 0.1 ± 0.07 vs. 0.1 ± 0.07; p = 0.068). Flow decreased in the draining vein (mean: 0.1 ± 0.2 vs. 0.2 ± 0.2; p < 0.05), and the circumference of the draining vein also decreased (mean: 16.1 ± 8.3 vs. 15.7 ± 6.7; p < 0.05). AVM volume decreased after SRS (mean: 45.3 ± 84.8 vs. 38.1 ± 78.7; p < 0.05). However, circumference (mm) of the primary feeding artery remained similar after SRS (mean: 15.7 ± 2.7 vs. 16.1 ± 3.1; p = 0.600). 4D flow may be able to demonstrate early hemodynamic changes in AVMs treated with radiosurgery, and these changes appear to be more pronounced and occur earlier than the structural changes on standard MRI/MRA. Level of Evidence: 4 Technical Efficacy Stage: 1.

Hematoma intraparenquimatoso como inicio de una malformación arteriovenosa. Reporte de un caso / Intraparenchymal Hematoma as the Beginning of an Arteriovenous Malformation. Case Report

RESUMEN Las malformaciones arteriovenosas cerebrales son anormalidades vasculares caracterizadas por una conexión fistulosa entre arterias y venas sin la intervención del lecho capilar normalmente existente. Se localizan con frecuencia en el territorio de las grandes arterias cerebrales, pero pueden aparecer en cualquier otro lecho vascular y son las causantes de hemorragias intracerebrales, epilepsia, signos neurológicos focales y otros síntomas. Se reporta el caso de una paciente de sexo femenino, de 64 años, hipertensa y diabética, que de forma aguda presenta cuadro de debilidad hemicorporal izquierda. Al examen físico presentaba, disartria, hemiparesia izquierda y signos meníngeos. La tomografía axial computarizada inicial mostró un hematoma intraparenquimatoso parietooccipital derecho con apertura al sistema ventricular. La angio-TAC mostró malformaciones arteriovenosas cerebrales parietooccipitales derechas. El tratamiento de este padecimiento depende de los factores del paciente, así como de factores angiográficos. Las diferentes opciones son: conducta expectante, tratamiento médico sintomático, resección quirúrgica, terapia endovascular, radiocirugía estereotáxica. Se presenta el caso clínico de un hematoma intraparenquimatoso secundario a una malformación arteriovenosa cerebral porque es un padecimiento poco frecuente en un adulto mayor.

ABSTRACT Cerebral arteriovenous malformations are vascular abnormalities characterized by a fistulous connection between arteries and veins without the intervention of the normally existing capillary bed. They are frequently located in the territory of the great cerebral arteries, but they can appear in any other vascular bed and are causes of intracerebral hemorrhages, epilepsy, focal neurological signs, and other symptoms. A case of a 64-year-old female patient, hypertensive and diabetic, who acutely presented with left hemicorporal weakness, is presented. On physical examination, she had dysarthria, left hemiparesis and meningeal signs. The initial computed tomography scan showed a right parietooccipital intraparenchymal hematoma opening to the ventricular system. CT angiography showed right parietooccipital cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Treatment of this condition depends on patient factors, as well as angiographic factors. The different options are: watchful waiting, symptomatic medical treatment, surgical resection, endovascular therapy, stereotaxic radiosurgery. The clinical case of an intraparenchymal hematoma secondary to a cerebral arteriovenous malformation is presented because it is a rare condition in an older adult.

Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment by Full Transcranial Neuroendoscopic Approaches.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, cerebral arteriovenous malformations (cAVMs) are surgically treated with microscopy, and no cases receive full neuroendoscopy. We operated on two small cAVMs with hematoma under a neuroendoscope, and the two patients obtained excellent results. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of treating cAVMs with a full transcranial neuroendoscopic approach. METHODS: The clinical data and operative techniques were collected and described for two patients who were diagnosed with cAVMs with hematoma and treated via a full transcranial neuroendoscopic approach. RESULTS: In the two patients, the hematomas were successfully evacuated, and the AVMs were removed simultaneously; both patients had achieved excellent recoveries at discharge. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature to successfully treat cAVMs with hematoma with a full transcranial neuroendoscopic approach, showing that this approach is feasible and may be an alternative for small ruptured cAVMs. However, while the feasibility of attempting this approach was demonstrated, it was difficult to certify its obvious advantage. Nevertheless, we believe that this approach might be difficult for middle and large AVMs due to the shortcomings of neuroendoscopy. More cases and practice are needed to confirm the merits and limitations of this new approach for AVMs.

Microsurgery for Spetzler-Martin Grade I-III Arteriovenous Malformations: Analysis of Surgical Results and Correlation of Lawton-Young Supplementary Grade and Supplemented Spetzler-Martin Score with Functional Outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of microsurgery for Spetzler-Martin (SM) grade I-III AVMs and evaluate the correlation of the Lawton-Young (LY) supplementary grade, supplemented Spetzler-Martin (SM-Supp/combined) score with the functional outcome. METHODS: A total of 42 patients with SM grade I-III AVMs who had undergone surgery at our institute during a 3-year period (June 2013 to May 2016) were included in the present study. RESULTS: All 42 patients had undergone primary surgery without previous embolization. Three patients (7.1%) had died due to surgical site hematoma in the postoperative period. One patient was lost to follow-up. The mean follow-up period for the remaining patients was 27 ± 14 months (range, 12-62 months). At the final follow-up examination of ≥12 months (FFU), 92.7% of the patients had a good outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] score ≤1), with an improved or unchanged mRS score in 87.8%. An AVM size >3 cm, diffuse AVM, SM grade III, and SM-Supp score >5 were associated with worsened mRS score at discharge and FFU. Higher LY grade (IV and V), eloquent AVM location, deep venous drainage, age >40 years, and unruptured presentation were not associated with worsened mRS score at both discharge and FFU. Of the 20 ARUBA-eligible patients, 19 (95%) had good outcomes. Postoperative angiograms for 39 patients revealed complete excision of the AVM in 37 (94.9%) and a residual AVM in 2 (5.1%). CONCLUSIONS: High cure rates and excellent clinical outcomes can be expected with microsurgery for most patients with SM grade I-III AVMs. An AVM size >3 cm, diffuse AVM nidus, SM grade III, and SM-Supp score >5 are associated with postoperative worsening of functional scores in patients with SM grade I-III AVMs.

Is smoking a risk factor for bleeding in adult men with cerebral arteriovenous malformations? A single-center regression study from China.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether smoking increases the risk of bleeding in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (CAVM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: According to our research plan, 385 CAVM patients admitted to Beijing Tiantan Hospital from December 2015 to January 2018 were included in this study, including 210 bleeding patients and 175 non-bleeding patients. We divided patients into three subgroups of current smokers, ex-smokers (those who quit smoking for one year or more) and non-smokers. The relationship between smoking and the risk of CAVM rupture was assessed by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between current smoker and non-smoker (OR = 1.87, p = 0.019). Among the covariates of the multivariate regression analysis, the location, combined with blood flow-related intracranial aneurysms and size were related to the risk of CAVM bleeding. CONCLUSION: Current smoking may increase the risk of CAVM bleeding; however, there was no significant correlation between ex-smoking and CAVM bleeding.

[Analysis of the Related Risk Factors of Cerebral AVM Hemorrhage and the Relationship Between EPCs and SDF-1 in Brain AVM].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the related risk factors of hemorrhage in human brain cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and the relationship between endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) content and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in different ages. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 130 patients with cerebral AVM who underwent surgical treatment from May 2012 to October 2018. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis was used to investigate the related risk factors of cerebral AVM hemorrhage. Forty paraffin specimens of human brain AVM were harvested from 24 cases of cerebral hemorrhage patients and 16 cases of non-cerebral hemorrhage patients Paraffin samples of cerebral cortex from 8 patients with epilepsy during the same period were selected as control. Positive expression of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (KDR2) in brain tissue samples of both groups were used to identify EPCs. Immunofluorescence double staining was used for KDR2 and CD34 positive localization to determine EPCs localization, and SDF-1 expression detection was performed. RESULTS: The size of brain AVM<3 cm, deep brain AVM and single venous drainage are independent risk factors for cerebral AVM hemorrhage. Immunohistochemical results showed that CD34 and KDR2 were expressed in cerebral AVM group, but not in the control group. Double immunofluorescence staining showed that EPCs mainly existed at the edge of vascular wall, while SDF-1 could co-stain with alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) positive cells and CD31 positive cells. SDF-1 expression in brain AVM tissue was higher than that in control group. There were significant differences in the number of EPCs among the patients of different ages ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in EPCs between cerebral hemorrhage group and non-hemorrhage group ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Brain AVM (<3 cm), single venous drainage and deep brain AVM are independent risk factors for cerebral AVM hemorrhage. In human brain AVM, EPC appears high level but decrease with age, which may play a role in vascular remodeling in AVM.