Predictability and uncertainty in arteriovenous malformation radiosurgery.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an accepted management option for patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM). The need for a system that accurately predicts patient outcomes after AVM SRS led to the development of the radiosurgery-based AVM score (RBAS). The original RBAS was simplified and been validated by numerous centers performing Gamma Knife, LINAC-based, and CyberKnife procedures. It is clear that no predictive method can be perfect due to the uncertainty that is inherent to complex, biologic systems.