Transarterial embolization of vertebral hemangioma.
OBJECTIVE
The authors retrospectively reviewed their 4-year clinical experience to determine the role of transarterial embolization in the treatment of symptomatic vertebral hemangioma.


METHODS
Eight patients (age range, 12-56 years) underwent a total of 10 embolization procedures; one patient underwent three procedures. The lesions were located between T-5 and L-5, and all patients presented with pain and symptoms referable to the lower extremities.


RESULTS
Embolization was technically successful in all patients, and no complications were encountered. Six of eight patients underwent surgery within 48 hours of embolization; four of the six showed significant clinical improvement immediately after surgery and on follow-up (average, 34 months). Two patients did not improve postoperatively. Two patients initially underwent embolization as the sole therapy. The first refused surgery and did not improve clinically; the second underwent two embolization procedures without clinical improvement and eventually underwent a third followed by surgery, which resulted in clinical improvement. All patients were hemodynamically stable during surgery, and blood loss was not problematic in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, surgery was an effective treatment for symptomatic vertebral hemangioma and the authors conclude that transarterial embolization of vertebral hemangioma is a safe and efficacious adjunctive procedure to such surgery. However, embolization was not as promising as a sole therapeutic modality in this small group of patients.
Smith
T P
TP
Department of Radiology, University of California San Francisco.
Koci
T
T
Mehringer
C M
CM
Tsai
F Y
FY
Fraser
K W
KW
Dowd
C F
CF
Higashida
R T
RT
Halbach
V V
VV
Hieshima
G B
GB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D002648:Child; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000098:blood supply