Objective: To summarize the effectiveness of radiosurgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
Method: We treated with linear accelerator radiosurgery 17 patients harboring AVMs in the brain. 15 AVMs were located supratentorially and others infratentorially. All the patients were treated with single fraction. The doses at AVM margin were 15 to 30 Gy.
Result: AVMs disappeared in 13 of the 17 patients, reduced in 3 and unchanged in only 1 at 2 year follow up. Vasogenic edema observed in 2 patients, their neurologic deficits were all improved with steroid.
Conclusion: Linear accelerator radiosurgery is effective in dealing with cerebral AVMs. It provides with a new means of treatment for AVMs which can't be effectively treated with microsurgery and embolization.