N-butyl Cyanoacrylate Use in Various Neuroendovascular Diseases

This review discusses the use of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in various neuroendovascular treatments. Despite the increase in the ONYX, NBCA continues to have significant usage. It is particularly useful for the treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs). Comparative studies have suggested that ONYX and NBCA are equally effective and safe for the treatment of AVM. However, the choice between the two depends on specific situations, such as the characteristics of the feeding arteries. NBCA is recommended for tortuous feeders, high-flow fistulous feeders, and feeders with a short margin of reflux, owing to the procedural risks posed by ONYX. The use of NBCA is also prominent in dAVF embolization. While achieving total occlusion solely with NBCA can be challenging, NBCA adheres to the vessel wall and encourages thrombus formation, aiding in fistula obliteration. In addition to AVM and dAVF, NBCA is used to treat chronic subdural hematoma and craniofacial vascular injuries. Embolization using NBCA is beneficial because of its deep penetration into the target tissue. For craniofacial injuries, NBCA embolization provides secure hemostasis within a short time. Neuroendovascular physicians should understand the characteristics of NBCA as a liquid embolic material and have expertise in the technical aspects of NBCA embolization, even in the ONYX era.