Radiosurgery and Embolization Found Effective for Patients with Low-Risk Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas

Friday, June 15, 2001

ROCHESTER, MINN. — Mayo Clinic researchers have found that a less-invasive treatment is safe and effective for select patients who have an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein on the surface of the brain. The problem affects up to 500,000 people in the United States.

The combined treatment approach uses of gamma knife radiosurgery followed by transarterial embolization. The gamma knife focuses high intensity radiation into a small area within the brain. An embolization is a treatment that clogs small blood vessels and blocks the flow of blood, such as to a tumor.

In the study, published in the June edition of the Journal of Neurosurgery, 23 patients underwent treatment with the gamma knife, and 20 patients also underwent embolization.

The symptoms resolved completely in 20 patients (87 percent). Two patients improved significantly (9 percent). Resolution or improvement of the symptoms in the patients occurrred immediately following transarterial embolization. One patient remained unchanged 35 months after treatment, while two patients had recurrence of symptoms at 10 and 12 months following treatment.

The treatment is not recommended for patients with angiographically determined risk factors for hemorrhage, except as an alternative in patients who cannot tolerate open brain surgery.

Contact: Lisa Copeland 507-538-0844 (days) 507-284-2411

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