Pre-operative embolisation of internal carotid artery branches and pial vessels in hypervascular brain tumours

Background. Pre-operative embolisation is an effective method used to reduce intra-operative bleeding and operative difficulty in hypervascular brain tumour surgery. However, embolisation of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and pial tumour feeding branches has certain limitations. Methods. From March 2000 to November 2006, 8 patients underwent superselective embolisation for hypervascular brain tumour. Seven tumours were extra-axial (6 meningiomas, 1 solitary fibrous tumour) and 1 was intra-axial (metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma). Results. In all patients, feeding vessels from ICA branches or pial arteries were successfully embolised using superselective microcatheterisation. A provocative test was applied in 4 patients who had tumours adjacent to the motor cortex. Angiographic devascularisation was slight to extensive. Mean devascularisation on post-embolisation MRI ranged from 40 to 80% (mean 63.8%). One patient (12.5%) suffered an embolisation-related complication (loss of choroidal brush), but was not clinically worse because of the pre-existing blindness. Conclusions. Superselective embolisation of ICA branches or pial vessels should be performed if several conditions are met, especially angiographic findings, pre-existing neurologic deficits, provocative test, and technical feasibility. If the ICA embolisation for hypervascular tumour is successfully achieved, the bleeding loss and operative risk can be reduced.