A case of cryptic venous angioma of the brain presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage is described. The patient''s progressive clinical course and the findings on cerebral angiography led to the erroneous diagnosis of cerebral metastases. Nine necropsy-proved examples of small venous hamartoma of the brain, presenting with intracranial hemorrhage, were seen in the literature and the pertinent findings summarized. None of the cases were studied angiographically during life. The clinical manifestations of the bleeding cryptic venous angioma are reviewed and the angiographic features detailed. Greater awareness of the characteristics of these uncommon malformations will aid in the differentiation of these benign and potentially curable vascular lesions from malignant brain tumors.