Objective To compare the effectiveness and safety of Onyx and n-butyl-2-cyanoacryhte (NBCA) for the embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).Methods The clinical data of 53 patients with cerebral AVMs (31 in the NBCA group and 22 in the Onyx group) were analyzed retrospectively.The safety and effectiveness of the 1-year follow-up were compared.The size of AVMs (diameters ＜3 cm,3-6 cm,and ＞6 cm) and the Spetzler-Martin grade were used to conduct subgroup analysis.Results There were no significant differences in the baseline data and AVM morphologies.The embolization rate in the Onyx group was significantly higher than that in the NBCA group (P ＜ 0.05),but there were no significant differences in the incidences of postoperative hemorrhage (1/22 vs.1/31;P=1.000)and neurological deficit (1/22 vs.3/31;P=0.633) in the 1-year follow-up after procedure.The subgroup analysis showed that the embolization rates of the small and medium-sized cerebral AVMs in the Onyx group were significantly higher than those in the NBCA group (all P ＜ 0.05),and the embolization rates of cerebral AVMs with different Spetzler-Martin grades in were significantly higher than those in the NBCA group (all P ＜0.05).Conclusion Onyx is equivalent to NBCA in safety but better in efficacy.