title: Neurologic complications after particle embolization of intracranial meningiomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preoperative embolization of meningiomas is frequently used to facilitate surgery and to reduce intraoperative blood loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of procedure-related neurologic complications during and after particle embolization of intracranial meningiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1996 and 2004, 185 consecutive patients underwent particle embolization of an intracranial meningioma. Devascularization was performed by means of superselective probing of the tumor-feeding vessels and ensuing free-flow embolization with spherical particles. All procedures were performed with systemic heparinization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients (3.2%) had ischemic events with neurologic deficit. Two had amaurosis, and four patients presented with hemiparesis. Hemorrhage occurred in six patients (3.2%). In five of these patients, rapid microsurgical tumor removal resulted in a favorable outcome without persistent neurologic deficit. In one patient, massive intratumoral, subarachnoid, and subdural hemorrhage was lethal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Particle embolization of meningiomas is associated with a substantial risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic events. The individual risk-to-benefit ratio of embolization should be thoroughly considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendszus
authors.forename: Camelia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Monoranu
authors.forename: Ansgar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nölte
authors.forename: Giles H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Vince
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solymosi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010316:Particle Size