Cerebral AVM's consist of an abnormally large connection between the arterial and the venous systems resulting in a wide variety of configurations, which are grossly subdivided into five types. Emphasis is given to the basic surgical principles of first understanding the nature of the lesion; second, having a thorough preoperative awareness of the vascular architecture from stereo angiography; and third, using standard, common sense, surgical maneuvers followed most importantly by intraoperative assurance of the complete removal by repeat serial angiography.