Objective      To evaluate the therapeutic effect of endovascular embolization combined with Gamma Knife in the treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).       Methods      Clinical data of 86 patients suffering from cerebral AVMs confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the neurosurgery department

Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College from September 2001 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients were treated with endovascular embolization

after which 72 patients were treated with Gamma Knife. The postoperative therapeutic effects were evaluated by DSA

computed tomography angiography (CTA) and MRI.       Results      The follow-up was achieved in 68 patients (79.1%) for 1-6 years (average 2.5 years)

with apparent symptom relief in 52 patients

mild disability in 5 patients

severe disability in 1 patient

seizure episodes in 8 patients

recurrent hemorrhage in 2 patients

and no death. The follow-up of DSA

CTA and MRI in 65 patients (75.6%) showed complete AVM disappearance in 37 patients (56.9%)

most AVM disappearance in 20 patients (30.8%) and part AVM disappearance in 8 patients (12.3%).       Conclusion      Endovascular embolization combined with Gamma Knife

which is minimally invasive and repeatable

is a safe and effective therapy in treatment of cerebral AVMs

and Gamma Knife can also be applied as an early therapy before the operation.