Embolization for vertebral metastases of follicular thyroid carcinoma

The technique of selective embolization has been applied for years in the treatment of vascular anomalies, severe hemorrhage and benign or malignant tumors, notably vertebral metastases of renal cell carcinoma. Because this technique is relatively easy to perform and offers immediate relief of symptoms, it is an attractive option for patients with vertebral metastases of thyroid carcinoma with signs of spinal cord compression. In these patients, other treatment modalities like radioactive iodine, external irradiation, or surgery are more cumbersome or less effective in the short term. We describe four patients with metastasized follicular thyroid carcinoma, presenting with neurological symptoms due to vertebral metastases. All patients had undergone total thyroidectomy, ranging from 1 month to 4 yr before embolization. Embolization was combined with iodine-131 therapy when appropriate. Selective catheterization of the arteries feeding the metastases was performed, followed by infusion of polyvinyl alcohol particles (Ivalon). The procedure was technically successful in all patients without adverse effects. In the patients described, embolization resulted in rapid resolution of neurological symptoms, sometimes within hours. The therapeutic effect lasted from months to years. We conclude that embolization of vertebral metastases of follicular thyroid carcinoma is an attractive palliative therapeutic option that may offer rapid relief of symptoms.