Vascular malformations of the brain

A guide for patients and carers

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What are vascular malformations of the brain?

Vascular malformations of the brain are abnormal arrangements of some of the blood vessels in your head. ('Vascular' refers to blood vessels and 'malformation' means abnormally shaped or formed.)
There are different types of vascular malformation. Each affects a different part of the network of blood vessels.

Vascular malformations usually occur on their own but it is possible to have more than one.

Some vascular malformations are difficult to categorise because they share the characteristics of more than one particular type of malformation.

Blood vessels


The heart and blood vessels are part of the circulatory system (also known as the cardiovascular system). Blood carrying oxygen and nutrients is pumped from the heart and travels through the body via a network of
blood vessels comprising the arteries, capillaries and veins.

  • Arteries: the muscular blood vessels of the body which carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, towards the capillaries and to all parts of the body.


  • Capillaries: the network of fine blood vessels that carry blood between the smallest arteries and the smallest veins throughout the organs and tissues of the body.


  • Veins: the thin-walled blood vessels of the body which carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart and lungs.

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