ABSTRACT
The advances in microneurosurgical equipment and techniques, combined with the evolution of endovascular and radiosurgical treatments, have greatly facilitated the management of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain. The continuous development in the field of neuroimaging has contributed enormously to the understanding of the anatomical characteristics of AVMs. Nevertheless, the intricate anatomy related to AVMs still presents a problem to the average neurosurgeon (1). Although the vessels involved with the arterial supply and with the venous drainage of AVMs appear disorganized, they usually follow the same pattern of the normal vasculature. Detailed three-dimensional anatomical knowledge of the normal brain structures enables the surgeon to understand and access an AVM with less difficulty and to perform surgical resection in a rational way.
