Microsphere Embolization of Hypervascular Posterior Fossa Tumors

Preoperative embolization of highly vascular tumors of the posterior fossa can decrease morbidity and operative blood loss. No clear consensus exists for the embolization agent of choice for optimal devascularization of these tumors. The purpose of this study was to assess effectiveness of microsphere embolization in reducing tumor hypervascularity before surgical resection.

We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with hypervascular posterior fossa tumors who were treated at a single institution from 2009 to 2016.

Four of 9 patients with hypervascular posterior fossa tumors underwent embolization with 300-500 μm microspheres before surgical resection. Patients selected for embolization had large tumors with large feeding vessels evident on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical resection was performed within 24 hours of embolization in all 4 patients. Mean (SD) patient age was 42.5 years (18.4), and mean (SD) tumor size was 4.3 cm (1.4) in greatest dimension. All patients presented with symptoms related to mass effect. Gross total tumor resection was achieved in all patients. There were no intraoperative complications related to the embolization or craniotomy; mean (SD) blood loss was 350 mL (208).

Preoperative embolization with microspheres can effectively reduce vascularity of the hypervascular posterior fossa tumor bed. This technique helped achieve complete resection, particularly for patients with recurrence after previous resection.