55 Spetzler–Martin Grade IV and V Arteriovenous Malformations

2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Hee Chang ◽  
Jin Woo Chang ◽  
Yong Gou Park ◽  
Sang Sup Chung

Object. The authors sought to evaluate the effects of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) on cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and the factors associated with complete occlusion. Methods. A total of 301 radiosurgical procedures for 277 cerebral AVMs were performed between December 1988 and December 1999. Two hundred seventy-eight lesions in 254 patients who were treated with GKS from May 1992 to December 1999 were analyzed. Several clinical and radiological parameters were evaluated. Conclusions. The total obliteration rate for the cases with an adequate radiological follow up of more than 2 years was 78.9%. In multivariate analysis, maximum diameter, angiographically delineated shape of the AVM nidus, and the number of draining veins significantly influenced the result of radiosurgery. In addition, margin radiation dose, Spetzler—Martin grade, and the flow pattern of the AVM nidus also had some influence on the outcome. In addition to the size, topography, and radiosurgical parameters of AVMs, it would seem to be necessary to consider the angioarchitectural and hemodynamic aspects to select proper candidates for radiosurgery.


2015 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 912-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew B. Potts ◽  
Darryl Lau ◽  
Adib A. Abla ◽  
Helen Kim ◽  
William L. Young ◽  
...  

OBJECT Resection is an appealing therapy for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) because of its high cure rate, low complication rate, and immediacy, and has become the first-line therapy for many AVMs. To clarify safety, efficacy, and outcomes associated with AVM resection in the aftermath of A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain AVMs (ARUBA), the authors reviewed their experience with low-grade AVMs—the most favorable AVMs for surgery and the ones most likely to have been selected for treatment outside of ARUBA's randomization process. METHODS A prospective AVM registry was searched to identify patients with Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II AVMs treated using resection during a 16-year period. RESULTS Of the 232 surgical patients included, 120 (52%) presented with hemorrhage, 33% had Spetzler-Martin Grade I, and 67% had Grade II AVMs. Overall, 99 patients (43%) underwent preoperative embolization, with unruptured AVMs embolized more often than ruptured AVMs. AVM resection was accomplished in all patients and confirmed angiographically in 218 patients (94%). There were no deaths among patients with unruptured AVMs. Good outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0–1) were found in 78% of patients, with 97% improved or unchanged from their preoperative mRS scores. Patients with unruptured AVMs had better functional outcomes (91% good outcome vs 65% in the ruptured group, p = 0.0008), while relative outcomes were equivalent (98% improved/unchanged in patients with ruptured AVMs vs 96% in patients with unruptured AVMs). CONCLUSIONS Surgery should be regarded as the “gold standard” therapy for the majority of low-grade AVMs, utilizing conservative embolization as a preoperative adjunct. High surgical cure rates and excellent functional outcomes in patients with both ruptured and unruptured AVMs support a dominant surgical posture for low-grade AVMS, with radiosurgery reserved for risky AVMs in deep, inaccessible, and highly eloquent locations. Despite the technological advances in endovascular and radiosurgical therapy, surgery still offers the best cure rate, lowest risk profile, and greatest protection against hemorrhage for low-grade AVMs. ARUBA results are influenced by a low randomization rate, bias toward nonsurgical therapies, a shortage of surgical expertise, a lower rate of complete AVM obliteration, a higher rate of delayed hemorrhage, and short study duration. Another randomized trial is needed to reestablish the role of surgery in unruptured AVM management.


2017 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waleed Brinjikji ◽  
Vivek N. Iyer ◽  
Christopher P. Wood ◽  
Giuseppe Lanzino

OBJECTIVEPatients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are known to suffer from high rates of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature examining prevalence rates, characteristics, and clinical presentation of cerebral AVMs in the HHT population.METHODSTo identify studies on AVM prevalence and characteristics in the HHT population, 4 databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched by a reference librarian with over 30 years experience in systematic reviews and meta-analysis. The search period was January 1, 1990–March 2016. The following search terms were used: hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, AVM, brain AVM, arteriovenous malformation, arteriovenous fistula, prevalence, and epidemiology. The authors identified studies that examined the prevalence rates, characteristics, and clinical presentation of cerebral AVMs in patients with HHT. They assessed overall AVM prevalence rates as well as prevalence rates by age, sex, HHT type, and country/region. They also systematically reviewed the characteristics of AVMs, including rupture status, location, clinical presentation, angioarchitecture, and Spetzler-Martin grade. Data were analyzed using a random-effects meta-analysis model.RESULTSThirty-nine studies were included in this meta-analysis. Thirty studies examined brain AVM prevalence rates in various HHT patient populations, and 18 studies examined AVM clinical and angiographic characteristics (9 studies examined both prevalence rates and AVM characteristics). The prevalence of brain AVMs in HHT patients was 10.4% (95% CI 7.9%–13.0%) with no significant difference between males (8.5%, 95% CI 4.9%–12.0%) and females (11.0%, 95% CI 5.9%–16.1%). Patients with HHT Type 1 (HHT1) had a significantly higher brain AVM prevalence (13.4%, 95% CI 9.5%–17.4%) compared with those with HHT Type 2 (HHT2) (2.4%, 95% CI 1.0%–3.8%) (p < 0.0001). In 55.2% (95% CI 38.3%–72.1%) of cases, the AVMs were symptomatic. Spetzler-Martin grade was 2 or less in 86.9% (95% CI 67.5%–95.2%) of patients.CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of brain AVMs in the HHT population is about 10%. HHT1 patients are significantly more likely to have brain AVMs than HHT2 patients. Most AVMs in the HHT population are symptomatic. The Spetzler-Martin grade for these lesions is 2 or less in nearly 90% of patients.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Ann Mansur ◽  
Alex Kostynskyy ◽  
Timo Krings ◽  
Ronit Agid ◽  
Ivan Radovanovic ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to 1) compare the safety and efficacy of acute targeted embolization of angiographic weak points in ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) versus delayed treatment, and 2) explore the angioarchitectural changes that follow this intervention. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively acquired database of ruptured bAVMs. Three hundred sixteen patients with ruptured bAVMs who presented to the hospital within 48 hours of ictus were included in the analysis. The first analysis compared clinical and functional outcomes of acutely embolized patients to those with delayed management paradigms. The second analysis compared these outcomes of patients with acute embolization to those with angiographic targets who did not undergo acute embolization. Finally, a subset of 20 patients with immediate postembolization angiograms and follow-up angiograms within 6 weeks of treatment were studied to determine the angioarchitectural changes after acute targeted embolization. Kaplan-Meier curves for survival between the groups were devised. Multivariate logistical regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS There were three deaths (0.9%) and an overall rerupture rate of 4.8% per year. There was no statistical difference in demographic variables, mortality, and rerupture rate between patients with acute embolization and those with delayed management. Patients with acute embolization were more likely to present functionally worse (46.9% vs 69.8%, modified Rankin Scale score 0–2, p = 0.018) and to require an adjuvant therapy (71.9% vs 26.4%, p < 0.001). When comparing acutely embolized patients to those nonacutely embolized angiographic targets, there was a significant protective effect of acute targeted therapy on rerupture rate (annual risk 1.2% vs 4.3%, p = 0.025) and no difference in treatment complications. Differences in the survival curves for rerupture were statistically significant. Multivariate analyses significantly predicted lower rerupture in acute targeted treatment and higher rerupture in those with associated aneurysms, deep venous anatomy, and higher Spetzler-Martin grade. All patients with acute embolization experienced complete obliteration of the angiographic weak point with various degrees of resolution of the nidus; however, some had spontaneous recurrence of their bAVM, while others had spontaneous resolution over time. No patients developed new angiographic weak points. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that acute targeted embolization of angiographic weak points, particularly aneurysms, is technically safe and protective in the early phase of recovery from ruptured bAVMs. Serial follow-up imaging is necessary to monitor the evolution of the nidus after targeted and definitive treatments. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 445-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduard B. Dinca ◽  
Patricia de Lacy ◽  
John Yianni ◽  
Jeremy Rowe ◽  
Matthias W. R. Radatz ◽  
...  

Object The authors present their 25-year experience in treating pediatric arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) to allow comparisons with other historic studies and data in adults. Methods Data were collected from a prospectively maintained departmental database selected for age and supplemented by case note review and telephone interviews as appropriate. Results Three hundred sixty-three patients, ages 1–16 years (mean ± SD, 12 ± 3.2 years), underwent 410 treatments; 4 had planned 2-stage treatments and 43 were retreated subsequent to an initial partial response. Fifty-eight percent received general anesthesia for the procedure. Sixteen percent had previously undergone embolization. The most common presenting symptoms were as follows: hemorrhage (80.2%), epilepsy (8.3%; overall seizure prevalence 19.9%), and migrainous headaches (6.3%). Only 0.28% of the AVMs were incidental findings. The mean lesion volume was 3.75 ± 5.3 cm3 (range 0.01–32.8 cm3), with a median Spetzler-Martin grade of III (range I–V). The mean peripheral (therapeutic) dose was 22.7 ± 2.3 Gy (range 15–25 Gy), corresponding to a mean maximum dose of 43.6 ± 6 Gy (range 25–51.4 Gy). The obliteration rate was 71.3% in patients who received one treatment and 62.5% for retreated patients, with a mean obliteration time of 32.4 and 79.6 months, respectively. The overall obliteration rate was 82.7%. No follow-up data are as yet available for the 4 patients who underwent the staged treatments. Only 4 patients received peripheral doses below 20 Gy, and the AVM was obliterated in 3 of these patients. The other patients received 20, 22.5, or 25 Gy and had obliteration rates of 82.6%, 77.7%, and 86.3%, respectively. The bleeding rate postradiosurgery was 2.2%, and the cumulative complication rate was 3.6%, with radionecrosis being the most common complication (1.1%). Conclusions Surprisingly, there was no correlation (p = 0.43) between outcome and radiosurgical dose when that dose was between 20 and 25 Gy, thus suggesting that the lower of these 2 doses may be effective. Radiosurgery for pediatric AVM is safe and effective.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kerin Morgan ◽  
Nazih Assaad ◽  
Miikka Korja

Abstract BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty regarding the management of unruptured Spetzler-Martin grade 3 brain arteriovenous malformations (SMG3 ubAVM). OBJECTIVE: To analyze our series of patients treated by surgery. METHODS: A single-surgeon database of consecutively enrolled bAVMs (between 1989 and 2014) was analyzed. Adverse outcomes due to surgery were assigned within the first 6 weeks following surgery and outcome was prospectively recorded and assigned at the last follow-up visit by using modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. RESULTS: Of the 137 reviewed patients, 112 (82%) were treated by surgery, 15 (11%) were treated elsewhere or by radiosurgery, and 10 (7%) were recommended for conservative management. Surgery for SMG3 ubAVM was associated with adverse outcomes with a new permanent neurological deficit of mRS &gt;1 in 23 of 112 (21%) patients. Permanent neurological deficit leading to a mRS &gt;2 from surgery was 3.6% (95% confidence interval, 1.1%-9.1%). Late recurrence of a bAVM occurred in 3 of 103 (2.9%) patients who had complete obliteration of bAVM confirmed immediately after surgery and who were subsequently later followed with radiological studies during the mean follow-up period of 3.0 years (range, 6 days to 18.8 years). CONCLUSION: When discussing surgical options for SMG3 ubAVM, a thorough understanding of the significance and incidence of adverse events and outcomes is required to fully inform patients. For our series, the additional subclassification of SMG ubAVM (based on variables contributing to the SMG or age) would not have been of use.


2017 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 1056-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Schramm ◽  
Karl Schaller ◽  
Jonas Esche ◽  
Azize Boström

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to review the outcomes after microsurgical resection of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) from a consecutive single-surgeon series. Clinical and imaging data were analyzed to address the following questions concerning AVM treatment in the post-ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations) era. 1) Are the patients who present with unruptured or ruptured AVMs doing better at long-term follow-up? 2) Is the differentiation between Ponce Class A (Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II) patients versus Ponce Class B and C patients (Spetzler-Martin Grade III and IV) meaningful and applicable to surgical practice? 3) How did the ARUBA-eligible patients of this surgical series compare with the results reported in ARUBA? METHODS Two hundred eighty-eight patients with cerebral AVMs underwent microsurgical resection between 1983 and 2012 performed by the same surgeon (J.S.). This is a prospective case collection study that represents a consecutive series. The results are based on prospectively collected, early-outcome data that were supplemented by retrospectively collected, follow-up data for 94% of those cases. The analyzed data included the initial presentation, Spetzler-Martin grade, obliteration rates, surgical and neurological complications, and frequency of pretreatment with embolization or radiosurgery. The total cohort was compared using “small-AVM,” Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II, and ARUBA-eligible AVM subgroups. RESULTS The initial presentation was hemorrhage in 50.0% and seizures in 43.1% of patients. The series included 53 Spetzler-Martin Grade I (18.4%), 114 Spetzler-Martin Grade II (39.6%), 90 Spetzler-Martin Grade III (31.3%), 28 Spetzler-Martin Grade IV (9.7%), and 3 Spetzler-Martin Grade V (1.0%) AVMs. There were 144 unruptured and 104 ARUBA-eligible cases. Preembolization was used in 39 cases (13.5%). The occlusion rates for the total series and small AVM subgroup were 99% and 98.7%, respectively. The mean follow-up duration was 64 months. Early neurological deterioration was seen in 39.2% of patients, of which 12.2% had permanent and 5.6% had permanent significant deficits, and the mortality rate was 1.7% (n = 5). Outcome was better for patients with AVMs smaller than 3 cm (permanent deficit in 7.8% and permanent significant deficit in 3.2% of patients) and Ponce Class A status (permanent deficit in 7.8% and significant deficit in 3.2% of patients). Unruptured AVMs showed slightly higher new deficit rates (but 0 instances of mortality) among all cases, and in the small AVM and Ponce Class A subgroups. Unruptured Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II lesions had the best outcome (1.8% permanent significant deficit), and ARUBA-eligible Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II lesions had a slightly higher rate of permanent significant deficits (3.2%). CONCLUSIONS Microsurgery has a very high cure rate. Focusing microsurgical AVM resection on unruptured lesions smaller than 3 cm or on Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II lesions is a good strategy for minimizing long-term morbidity. Well-selected microsurgical cases lead to better outcomes than with multimodal interventions, as in the ARUBA treatment arm, or conservative treatment alone. Long-term prospective data collection is valuable.


2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Kano ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford ◽  
John C. Flickinger ◽  
Huai-che Yang ◽  
Thomas J. Flannery ◽  
...  

Object The aim of this paper was to define the outcomes and risks of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Methods Between 1987 and 2006, the authors performed Gamma Knife surgery in 996 patients with brain AVMs, including 217 patients with AVMs classified as Spetzler-Martin Grade I or II. The median maximum diameter and target volumes were 1.9 cm (range 0.5–3.8 cm) and 2.3 cm3 (range 0.1–14.1 cm3), respectively. The median margin dose was 22 Gy (range 15–27 Gy). Results Arteriovenous malformation obliteration was confirmed by MR imaging in 148 patients and by angiography in 100 patients with a median follow-up of 64 months (range 6–247 months). The actuarial rates of total obliteration determined by angiography or MR imaging after 1 SRS procedure were 58%, 87%, 90%, and 93% at 3, 4, 5, and 10 years, respectively. The median time to complete MR imaging–determined obliteration was 30 months. Factors associated with higher AVM obliteration rates were smaller AVM target volume, smaller maximum diameter, and greater marginal dose. Thirteen patients (6%) suffered hemorrhages during the latency period, and 6 patients died. Cumulative rates of AVM hemorrhage 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 years after SRS were 3.7%, 4.2%, 4.2%, 5.0%, and 6.1%, respectively. This corresponded to rates of annual bleeding risk of 3.7%, 0.3%, and 0.2% for Years 0–1, 1–5, and 5–10, respectively, after SRS. The presence of a coexisting aneurysm proximal to the AVM correlated with a significantly higher hemorrhage risk. Temporary symptomatic adverse radiation effects developed in 5 patients (2.3%) after SRS, and 2 patients (1%) developed delayed cysts. Conclusions Stereotactic radiosurgery is a gradually effective and relatively safe option for patients with smaller volume Spetzler-Martin Grade I or II AVMs who decline initial resection. Hemorrhage after obliteration did not occur in this series. Patients remain at risk for a bleeding event during the latency interval until obliteration occurs. Patients with aneurysms and an AVM warrant more aggressive surgical or endovascular treatment to reduce the risk of a hemorrhage in the latency period after SRS.


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