Objective： To analyze different treatment methods for cerebral arteriovenous malformations（AVMs）. Methods: Of 483 patients with AVMs in Beijing Tiantan Hospital from 2000 to 2003, 136 patients were treated with endovascular embolization, 204 patients operated, 77 patients treated with gamma knife surgery, and 64 patients treated conservatively. The patients were followed up for 1 to 5 years, The efficacy and prognosis of different methods were analyzed. Results: In the group of microsurgical resection, the incidence of complication was 29.4%, and the permanent complication was 6.75%; the mortality rate was 1.23%, and the total excision was performed in 93.5% of the cases; the incidence of posttreatment hemorrhage was 1.84%. In the group of gamma knife surgery, the permanent complication was 3.6%; the incidence of posttreatment hemorrhage was 12.5% and no case died. In the group of endwascular embolization, the incidence of complication was 19.9%, and the permanent complication was 6.0%; the incidence of posttreatment hemorrhage was 21.0%, and the mortality rate was 7.0%. The incidence of hemorrhage of conservatively treated patients was 3.33% and no patient died. Conclusion: The microsurgical resection is the most reliable treatment for AVM. In some AVM cases combination therapy is necessary.