Gamma Knife Surgery for Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations in Children: A 13-year Experience

[[abstract]]Object. Studies on the efficacy of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) radiosurgery have largely been conducted in the adult population. Clinically, the results may not always be applicable to pediatric patients. Moreover, studies involving the pediatric population have largely comprised small- ( 10 cm(3)) AVMs in children, sparse radiosurgical results are available. The current study was conducted to further clarify the role of radiosurgery in the treatment of pediatric AVMs. Methods. A retrospective analysis was performed of data obtained in 105 pediatric patients ( 20 cm(3)) AVMs were similar in the pediatric and adult groups, whereas AVMs between 3 and 10 cm(3) responded less efficaciously in children (p = 0.042). The AVMs with volumes ranging from 10 to 20 cm(3) were also associated with a lower obliteration rate in children at 48 months, but statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.279). Conclusions. Gamma Knife surgery is an effective and safe treatment alternative for pediatric AVMs. The medium (3-10-cm(3)) and large (10-20-cm(3)) AVMs tend to respond less efficaciously than those of comparable size in adults.[[journaltype]]國外[[incitationindex]]SCI[[countrycodes]]GB