Considerations for the Use of Stereotactic Radiosurgery to Treat Large Arteriovenous Malformations

Abstract

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective treatment strategy for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Aggressive treatment achieving complete obliteration is necessary to prevent further intracranial hemorrhage and neurological deficits. However, SRS treatment of large AVMs (>10 cm3) is challenging. To prevent toxicity in the normal brain tissue, it is imperative to reduce the radiation dose as the lesion volume increases; however, this also reduces the rate of obliteration. In this study, we review the various radiosurgical approaches for treating large AVMs and their outcomes, and suggest ways to improve treatment outcomes during SRS for large AVMs.

Keywords

• arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
• stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
• gamma knife radiosurgery
• adverse radiation effect (ARE)
• radiation-induced change (RIC)
• volume-staged