Computerized tomography features of ruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation

Computerized tomography (CT) features of ruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) were analyzed in 21 cases, whose CT scans were taken within 7 days after the attack. High density areas were seen in all cases, and distributed in 14 cases (66.7 %) of the subcortical region, 3 (14.3 %) of the basal ganglia, 2 (9.5 %) of the corpus callosum, and 2 (9.5 %) of the cerebellum. In 12 out of 21 cases (57.1 %), high density areas were combined in the ventricular system. High density areas were also seen in one case, either in the ambient cistern or in the Sylvian fissure, respectively. High density area was never seen in the basal cistern, such as in cases with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. From these CT features of the ruptured cerebral AVM, it should be classified in the intracerebral hemorrhage rather than the subarachnoid hemorrhage group. (author)