Detectability of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations with CT Angiography in the Chuvash Republic

Abstract

Objective. To estimate the detection rate of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the Chuvash Republic and their characteristics.Material and methods. The results of CT angiographies performed at the Unit of Radiation Diagnosis in 2014–2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Results. Over 4 years, brain AVMs were first detected in 29 patients (5–9 cases per year); of them 59% were men and 41% were women. The peak detectability occurred at the age of 31–40 years. AVMs were more frequently localized in the frontal and temporal regions. The high risk of surgery for AVMs according to the grading scheme by R. Spetzler and N. Martin (1986) occurred in 10% of cases. Besides AVMs, cerebral vascular aneurysms were detected in 14% of patients.Conclusion. Small AVMs with a low risk of surgery are more common; however, there is a higher risk of hemorrhagic complications. The risk of cerebral hemorrhage is higher when AVMs are fed by the internal carotid arteries and drained into the deep veins. The likelihood of strokes in AVMs is 27% higher in patients with the open circle of Willis.

Keywords

• arteriovenous malformations
• cerebral vessels
• ct angiography
• stroke
• willis circle