Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

Lee, Sun-Il

Review article

Journal of the Korean Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 2006;2(1):28-36.
Published online June 30, 2006.

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

Sun-Il Lee

Department of Neurosurgery, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea

Abstract

The most devastating presentation associated with intracerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the brain is intracerebral hemorrhage. Numerous natural history studies have demonstrated approximately 3% to 4% per year risk of hemorrhage in patients harboring AVM. There are several treatment modality (such as microsurgery, radiosurgery, or endovascular treatment) available that may eliminate the lesion before a hemorrhage can occur. Stereotactic radiosurgery is the application of a single, high dose of radiation to a stereotactically defined target volume. It is a unique hybrid of surgery and radiation theraphy and become an important tool for treatment of intracerebral arteriovenous malformation. The advantages of radiosurgery are that it is noninvasive, has a minimal risk of acute complications. The primary disadvantage of radiosurgery is that cure is not immediate. We reviewed the historical background of Gamma knife radiosurgery for intracerebral arteriovenous malformation, and the results of radiosurgical treatment and its related factors.

Key Words: Gamma knife radiosurgery, Intarcerebral arteriovenous malformation.