Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations in Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: Application for the Study of Hemodynamic Alterations and Pre-Procedure Planning

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are complex cerebrovascular lesions characterized by abnormal direct connections between arteries and veins, resulting in altered hemodynamics and an increased risk of rupture. Following PRISMA, a comprehensive review on CFD-based modelling in brain AVMs was conducted across major scientific databases, including Pub-Med/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, EBSCO Academic Search and IEEE Xplore, evaluating its role in hemodynamic analysis and pre-procedural planning. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed through both qualitative synthesis and bibliometric approaches. Bibliometric analysis revealed a growing research interest in image-based modelling, 4D flow imaging and virtual embolization after 2021. Despite recent advances in study of hemodynamics simulations, the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to brain AVMs remains challenging due to their complex vascular architecture and highly heterogeneous flow patterns. Nevertheless, CFD remains an important imaging modality for characterizing the lesion and guiding pre-interventional decision making.