Intracerebral arteriovenous malformations: intraoperative color Doppler flow imaging.

Abstract

Color Doppler flow ultrasound (US) was used to locate and image intracerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). US was deemed useful in eight of 12 patients who underwent AVM resection. Blood flow in the eight lesions was clearly evident, and major feeding arteries and draining veins, such as the superior sagittal sinus, were identified. Color Doppler flow imaging was used to differentiate adjacent hematoma from AVM in three patients, locate a small (6-mm) AVM deep in the brain in two patients, detect a deep major feeding artery in one patient, detect a residual unresected AVM in one patient, and confirm complete resection in all eight patients.