title: A new method for using radiopaque sclerosing foam to treat venous malformations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sclerosing foam is recommended to treat venous malformations (VMs). However, determining the precise dosage for satisfactory efficacy and few side effects are still challenging.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a new method of preparing sclerosing foam by adding contrast agent to treat patients with VMs visibly and precisely under radiologic guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sclerosant (polidocanol) and contrast agent (iopromide) were mixed to prepare a new sclerosing foam according to Tessari method, and different ratios of the 2 materials were used to study the stability (half-life) of the produced foams. X-ray absorption of the radiopaque foams was observed during patient treatment with digital subtraction angiography (DSA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The foams generated with the new method demonstrated a high x-ray absorption under DSA. The foam half-life among groups varied. The ratio of iopromide/polidocanol at 1:2 had a significantly longer half-life than the 1:1 or polidocanol-only group. The 1:2 group had a relative high x-ray absorption and was radiopaque to allow visualization of the sclerosing foam and lesion with DSA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mixing contrast agent with sclerosant to prepare radiopaque foams is a new method for treating complex VMs with DSA, and a ratio of 1:2 is recommend for polidocanol and iopromide.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Institute of Dental Medicine, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; †School of Stomatology, Shandong University, Jinan, China; ‡School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Ran
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: An-Wei
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shao-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide