Book excerpt: Focusing on both the patient's perspective and the neurosurgeon's concerns, Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations: Essentials for Patients and Practitioners, edited by leading experts Drs. Philip E. Stieg, Alexander A. Khalessi, and Michael L. J. Apuzzo, starts with an up-to-date approach to the matter of doctor-patient communication and moves on to the highly technical details of AVM treatment options. The first section covers communication with patients (who may well want to read it themselves); the second section is directed to neurosurgeons and other specialists caring for patients with intracranial AVMs, including those in emergency medicine, obstetrics, anesthesia, and intensive care. It offers a highly sophisticated but readable approach to the contemporary treatment of these challenging lesions. - Provides expert guidance on diagnosis, histopathology, natural history, anatomy, imaging, and treatment options and their risks and benefits—all with the goal of helping patients make informed decisions about the optimal management choices for their own individual cases. - Facilitates articulate, data-driven discussion and regarding the clinical diagnosis and surgical procedures involved in treating AVMs. - Addresses specific, difficult issues that arise during the treatment of AVMs, offering real-world advice to neurosurgeons and other care providers. - Includes key pearls in every chapter, as well as stunning anatomical illustrations throughout.