Stereotactic endoscopic resection of angiographically occult vascular malformations.

Total resection of angiographically occult vascular malformations was performed in four patients using stereotactic open-system endoscopy. The lesions were relatively small but localized deep in the brain or involving eloquent cortex. Fiber-guided YAG laser coagulation was efficient for haemostasis and no significant complication was seen in any case. Endoscopic stereotactic laser surgery by open-system endoscopy is considered a safe and promising treatment for small AOVM's located in deep or eloquent neural structures.