The purpose of the present study is to review the results and complications of preoperative
embolization of hypervascular skull base tumors at a neurosurgical center with a team
of neurosurgeons cross-experienced in the application of both microsurgery and endovascular
techniques. One hundred and twenty-eight endovascular approaches were performed in
66 patients treated for skull base meningiomas (n = 41), paragangliomas of the temporal
bone (n = 18), and juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (n = 7). One death and 2
permanent disabilities were attributable to endovascular therapy. These complications
occurred early in our experience (1982 - 1989) and were related to thromboembolic
events rather than complications of transcatheter embolization itself. Our current
standard is to perform transfemoral superselective embolizations with either finely
corpuscular embolizing substances (PVA particles) or cyanoacrylates (NBCA) under local
anesthesia. Using this protocol no embolization-related complications have occurred
over the last 9 years. We thus conclude that preoperative embolization of hypervascular
skull base tumors can be accomplished safely with the endovascular techniques now
available.
Key words:
Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma - Paraganglioma - Preoperative Embolization -
Skull Base Meningioma
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Corresponding Author:
A Gruber,M. D
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Vienna Medical School
Waehringer Guertel 18 - 20, 1090 Vienna Austria
Telefon: Phone:+43/1/40400/4560
Fax: Fax:+43/1/40400/4566
eMail: E-mail:andreas.gruber@univie.ac.at
