STEREOTAXIC MULTIPLE ARC RADIOTHERAPY .3. INFLUENCE OF TREATMENT OF ARTERIOVENOUS-MALFORMATIONS ON ASSOCIATED EPILEPSY

Although radiosurgery obliterates the majority of arteriovenous malfor mations (AVMs) and cures patients of further haemorrhage, the perceive d beneficial effect on the epilepsy associated with it is less certain . Two recent publications suggest that radiosurgery benefits the assoc iated epilepsy. In a consecutive series of 101 AVM patients presenting for radiosurgery to SE Bartholomew's Hospital, 24 had a history of fi ts; 16 were evaluable for analysis of fit control. Fifteen of the sixt een patients (94%) had improvement in fit control, 10/16 (63%) becomin g fit free. This improvement appeared to correlate with response to tr eatment on follow-up angiography and in 11/15 patients this occurred w ith no change or a reduction in anticonvulsant in medication. No patie nt suffered a deterioration in the epilepsy. These data are discussed in the context of the only two previous reports in the Literature and the mechanisms of action of treatment.