Complete recovery from hemiplegia following excision of a giant basal ganglia arteriovenous malformation

A young female harbored a large arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the basal ganglia associated with marked arteriovenous shunting. The complete recovery of her neurological deficit subsequent to excision of the AVM illustrates the reversibility of such severe cerebral impairment. Large lesions in the basal ganglia often have been deemed inoperable. However, modern advances in microsurgical techniques have provided the necessary illumination, magnification, and instrumentation that was needed for the exposure and gentle resection of the lesion in our patient.