Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging in the successful surgical treatment of an arteriovenous malformation

Abstract

A 44-year-old female presented with left occipital arteriovenous malformation (AVM) manifesting as sudden onset of severe headache. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and conventional angiography showed the left occipital AVM with hemorrhage. Intraoperative MR imaging (iMR imaging) and intraoperative time-resolved imaging of contrast-kinetics (iTRICKS) at 1.5 T revealed complete removal of the nidus of the AVM without conventional catheter angiography. Conventional catheter angiography is commonly used in preoperative and intraoperative examination of AVMs, and for documentation of the surgical outcome, but less-invasive techniques are desirable for both preoperative screening and intraoperative examination. iMR imaging with iTRICKS is less invasive and safer than conventional angiography for both brain tumor surgery and AVM surgery.