Efficacy and safety of ethanol injections in 18 cases of vertebral hemangioma: a mean follow-up of 2 years.
METHODS
The clinical records and radiographs of 18 patients with vertebral hemangiomas treated with ethanol vertebroplasty were reviewed to evaluate the usefulness of this method.


OBJECTIVE
To assess, after a mean 2-year follow-up, the complication rate, results, and patient satisfaction with ethanol injection into vertebral hemangioma.


BACKGROUND
There is controversy about the safety of ethanol injections in the treatment of vertebral hemangiomas.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with vertebral hemangiomas were prepared for ethanol vertebroplasty. Eighteen patients were treated with ethanol vertebroplasty (average age, 49 years; range, 18-77 years) with a mean follow-up of 2 years (range, 1-4 years). The rest of the patients were not treated with ethanol vertebroplasty because in a pretreatment test injection the contrast medium was not retained by the hemangioma.


RESULTS
Intralesional injections of alcohol did not cause clinical complications in any of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that intralesional alcohol injections can be considered a safe technique for vertebral hemangiomas. However, a careful technique is required.
Bas
T
T
Unidad de Raquis, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Spain.
Aparisi
F
F
Bas
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000431:Ethanol