Radiotherapy for Small Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

The result of two types of radiation therapy for small cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) were analyzed, and the indications and limitations of radiation therapy for small AVMs discussed. Four patients with small AVMs received radiation therapy. There were three males and one female, ranging in age from 7 to 44 years with an average of 29 years. One cerebral AVM was located in the right thalamus, two were in the left central sulcus and one was in the left parietal lobe. Three AVMs were subjected to conventional therapy with 30 Gy of X-rays from a linear accelerator. The other AVM was subjected to stereotaxic radiosurgery with 27.5 Gy of gamma rays. The conventional radiation therapy did not obliterate the AVMs, but radiosurgery successfully obliterated the AVM in the central sulcus. These results suggest that conventional radiation is not effective for small cerebral AVMs, and that stereotaxic radiosurgery is preferable.

AVM

Radiation thrapy

Stereotaxic radiosurgery