1997 Volume 25 Issue 5 Pages 386-390
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in elderly patients are rare. The natural history of AVMs in elderly patients has not been well known. We report 2 cases of AVMs of elderly patients presenting with a cerebral hemorrhage. Both of them were surgically excised with a satisfactory outcome.
Case 1 was a 75-year-old man who presented with right frontal hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography disclosed an undefined vascular lesion. A thrombosed AVM was identified during surgery, and was proven by histological examination of the surgical specimen.
Case 2 was a 72-year-old man who had a history of mild right hemiparesis from early childhood. He presented with a left frontal hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography showed an AVM in the left mortor cortex. He left the hospital with a neurological recovery to the level before the onset. AVMs in elderly patients may be prone to bleed. Surgical treatment of AVMs in elderly patients might be a useful option when they are easily accessible.
