Comparative Study of Angiography and Magnetic Resonance Image in Verifying Obliteration of Arteriovenous Malformation after Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.

Park, Sung Hun; Lim, Young Jin; Leem, Won; Rhee, Bong Arm; Kim, Gook Ki; Kim, Tae Sung

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2002;32(5): 407-412.

Sung Hun Park, Young Jin Lim, Won Leem, Bong Arm Rhee, Gook Ki Kim, Tae Sung Kim

Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea. youngjinns@yahoo.co.kr

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is that magnetic resonance(MR) imaging can substitute for conventional angiography in verifying obliteration of arteriovenous malformation(AVM) after Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
METHODS
Among the patients of AVM treated with Gamma Knife between 1992 and 1997, all of 40 patients who had been followed up more than 2 years(range 24-101 months) had no AVM on follow-up MR images. Follow-up imaging was performed every 6 months or when clinically warranted. Conventional angiography was performed when the AVM was no longer seen on MR images.
RESULTS
Among 40 patients who had shown total obliteration on MR images, thirty one patients(77.5%) showed complete obliteration of the lesion on angiography. However, subtotal obliteration was shown in five patients(12.5%) and partial obliteration in four patients(10.0%).
CONCLUSION
The conventional angiography is absolutely needed for verifying obliteration of AVMs and to eliminate the misunderstanding of follow-up MR images.

Key Words: Arteriovenous malformation; Gamma knife radiosurgery; Complete obliteration; Magnetic resonance image; Conventional angiography