title: Palliative embolization of hemorrhages in extensive head and neck tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A lot has changed in terms of intervention technique, indications and embolic agents since Duggan introduced embolization to management of postraumatic epistaxis in 1970. Embolization is used in treatment of spontaneous and traumatic epistaxis, palliative tumors and vascular defects, as well as vascularized tumors and juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas. The possibility of simultaneous visualization of pathology and implementation of therapy is one of its greatest advantages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Authors analyzed the efficacy of selective embolization treatment of haemorrhage in advanced head and neck tumors. Seventy-six patients with such tumors treated at the Department of Otolaryngology in Bialystok between1999 and 2011 were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Embolization of bleeding vessel within the tumor was effective (hemorrhage was stopped) in 65 patients (86%). Although the method is highly efficient, it is still associated with complications. Fourteen patients suffered from headaches that lasted for several days and six from face edema. Rebleeding was rare. Unfortunately, there was one case of hemiparesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that superselective endovascular treatment deserves to be considered alongside standard options for the palliative or preoperative management of acute hemorrhage from advanced head and neck cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Ireneusz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rzewnicki
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kordecki
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukasiewicz
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janica
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puławska-Stalmach
authors.forename: Justyn Ksawery
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kordecki
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lebkowska