Preoperative transarterial particulate embolization of juvenile angiofibroma with intracranial extension: Technical and clinical outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: This retrospective study was constructed to assess the beneficial effects of preoperative transarterial particulate embolization of juvenile angiofibroma (JA) with intracranial extension in terms of intraoperative blood loss and local tumor recurrence. Patients and Methods: This study included 20 male patients (mean age ± SD: 14.6 ± 7.2 years) with radiologically documented and histologically proved JA. All patients had intracranial extension and underwent surgical resection of the tumor after preoperative transarterial particulate embolization. The amount of blood loss was estimated and follow up scans were assessed for tumor recurrence. Results: The mean amount of intra-operative blood loss was 560 ml and the mean amount of blood transfusion was 944.4 ml. Local residue/recurrence of tumor was seen in 5 patients (5/20); two patients with intracranial residual tumor (2/20), one patient with intracranial recurrence (1/20) and 2 patients (2/20) with extracranial recurrence. The technique of embolization was safe with no procedure related mortality. Minor complications were seen in all patients and major complication only in one patient. Conclusion: Preoperative transarterial particulate embolization of JA with intracranial extension helped to perform surgery with mild amount of blood loss compared to the literature.

Keywords

• Angiofibroma
• Embolization
• Intracranial
• Particulate
• Transarterial