Longitudinal Assessment of Stereotactic Radiosurgery Outcomes in Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: Continuous Monitoring of Treatment Effects

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) present significant treatment challenges due to their hemorrhage risk and associated neurological deficits. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a technique designed to obliterate AVMs while minimizing complications. This study aims to evaluate the obliteration rate and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing SRS using linear accelerators (LINAC) for the treatment of brain AVMs. This retrospective and prospective study included 56 consecutive patients who underwent SRS for AVMs between 2008 and 2021, with the study period till 2023. The mean patient age was 29.21 years (range: 8–67 years). Complete obliteration rates and clinical improvements were assessed, and statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS. The mean planning target volume was 11.39 cc (median: 7.74 cc) and the average modified AVM score was 1.79 (median: 1.56). The obliteration rate was 83.92%, with 7.1% of patients exhibiting residual AVM and 5.3% requiring surgical excision. Post-radiation hemorrhage occurred in 7.14% of cases. LINAC-based SRS proves to be a highly effective and safe treatment modality for small or surgically inaccessible brain AVMs.