The rationale and technique of staged-volume arteriovenous malformation radiosurgery

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 48; no. 3; p. 817
• Main Authors: Pollock, B E, Kline, R W, Stafford, S L, Foote, R L, Schomberg, P J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-10-2000
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations - pathology; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations - surgery; Middle Aged; Radiosurgery - methods; Reoperation; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0360-3016
• DOI: 10.1016/S0360-3016(00)00696-9

Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective management strategy for properly selected arteriovenous malformation (AVM) patients. However, the risk of postradiosurgical radiation-related injury generally limits this procedure to patients with AVMs of an average diameter of 3 cm or less. Radiosurgery of large AVMs in a planned staged fashion was undertaken to limit the radiation exposure to the surrounding normal brain.
Between April 1997 and December 1999, 10 patients with a median AVM volume of 17.4 cm(3) (range, 7.4-53.3 cm(3)) underwent staged-volume radiosurgery (23 procedures). At the first radiosurgical procedure, the total volume of the AVM is estimated and a dose plan calculated that covers 10 cm(3)-15 cm(3), or one-half the nidus volume if the AVM is critically located (brainstem, thalamus, or basal ganglia). At 6-month intervals thereafter, radiosurgery was repeated to different portions of the AVM with the previous dose plan(s) being re-created utilizing intracranial landmarks to minimize radiation overlap. Radiosurgical procedures were continued until the entire malformation has been irradiated.
The radiation dosimetry of staged-volume AVM radiosurgery was compared to hypothetical single-session procedures for the 10 patients. Staged-volume radiosurgery decreased the 12-Gy volume by an average of 11.1% (range, 4.9-21%) (p < 0.001). The non-AVM 12-Gy volume was reduced by an average of 27.2% (range, 12.5-51.3%) (p < 0.001).
Staged-volume radiosurgery of large AVMs results in less radiation exposure to the adjacent brain. Further follow-up is needed to determine whether this technique provides a high rate of AVM obliteration while maintaining an acceptable rate of radiation-related complications.