Embolization of intra-axial hypervascular tumors with Onyx: report of three cases

Complete surgical resection of intra-axial hypervascular tumors located in the posterior fossa, in particular hemangioblastomas, may be challenging due to tumor location, mass effect and excessive bleeding. Embolization of these lesions can be done preoperatively or as a palliative measure in patients who are not surgical candidates. Preoperative embolization may reduce intraoperative blood loss, shorten surgical time and increase the chance of a complete resection. However, the safety and effectiveness of this procedure is still a matter of debate. Three cases of intra-axial hypervascular tumors in the posterior fossa (two confirmed hemangioblastomas) that were embolized using a non-adhesive liquid embolic agent (Onyx) are reported.