Modifications based on computed tomographic imaging in planning the radiosurgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations

Early in the course of treating arteriovenous malformations with radiosurgery, it was noted that the nidus isocenter and diameter, as identified by stereotactic angiography, often differed from that identified by stereotactic enhanced computed tomography (CT). To assess the sources of discrepancy between the arteriographic and CT representations of the nidus, dosimetry (from treatment records stored on an optical disk) was reviewed in 81 consecutive cases. In 44 cases, the isocenters differed by an average of 3.6 mm and the collimator size differed. Fourteen nidi were larger on CT (average, 2.6 mm), and 30 were smaller on CT (average, 4.0 mm). Overall, the angiographic and the CT nidus differed in 75% of the cases reviewed. Sources of error in the angiographic nidus determination included overlapping vessels, bony structures, fine filamentous arterioles, and irregular shapes.