Cerebral vascular malformations, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), are diagnosed incidentally or
when presenting with clinical manifestations such as headache, acute sensorimotor deficit, and epilepsy,
among others. Their detection ranges from 8–10% of patients admitted to our institution for magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebral magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). AVMs constitute a
group of congenital or acquired diseases that represent morphological alterations affecting arteries,
capillaries, and veins, or combinations thereof.
Several types of AVMs are known, including those with arteriovenous shunts and those with high or
slow flow. The most frequent is the arteriovenous malformation (AVM), cavernous angioma (CA) or
cavernoma, although it is also known as cavernous hemangioma or cavernous venous malformation.
Venous angioma (VA), telangiectasia or capillary telangiectasia, and dural arteriovenous fistulas
(DAVFs) are anomalous vascular communications located within the dura mater, such that the direct
arteriovenous connections give the pathology its name. AVMs present with a parenchymal nidus, while
DAVFs are direct communications with the dura mater. MRI, complemented by MRA, is essential for
their classification and treatment planning.
