title: Selective embolization for hypervascular metastasis from differentiated thyroid cancer: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The technique of selective embolization has been applied for years in the treatment of vascular anomalies, severe hemorrhage, and for benign and malignant tumors. Some hypervascular skeletal metastases are prone to massive hemorrhage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the cases of two patients with thyroid carcinoma presenting with neuromuscular symptoms due to large skeletal metastases in the shoulder and sternum respectively. Pre-operative percutaneous selective catheterizations of the arteries feeding the metastatic tumors were performed, followed by infusion of gelfoam. The procedures were technically successful in both patients without adverse effects or bleeding. Complete resections of the skeletal metastases were then performed without substantial bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selective embolization is an effective treatment for bony metastases from thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Thyroid/Head & Neck Cancer Center, Dongnam Institution of Radiological & Medical Sciences, 40 Jwadong-gil, Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea. hyson79@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Soo-Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Eui Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Bu
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D002968:Clavicle; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013249:Sternum; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*