Introduction: Meningiomas of the petroclival region are rare and difficult to treat skull base lesions. They commonly derive blood supply from the meningohypophyseal trunk (MHT) of the cavernous ICA or neuromeningeal braches of the ascending pharyngeal artery. Pre-operative embolization can ease the resection by reducing blood loss and softening the tumor. We present our series of pre-operative embolization for petroclival meningiomas.
Methods: A database of 95 petroclival meningiomas surgically resected at our institution from 2000-2013 was retrospectively reviewed. 69 patients underwent pre-operative angiogram with the goal of embolization. Data was collected on angiographic finding and efficacy of embolization, complications, and surgical outcomes
Results: Of the tumors undergoing angiography, 66 were WHO Grade I, and 3 were WHO Grade II. 55 of 69 tumors (80%) were embolized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles. There were 39 tumors (56%) with ICA feeders, 8 with ECA feeders (12%) and 22 tumors with both ECA and ICA feeders (32%). Of the most commons feeding vessels, 38/46 (83%) MHT feeders, 10/15 (67%) ascending pharyngeal arteries, 12/18 (67%) middle meningeal arteries were embolized, with partial tumor embolization in 43 cases (78%) and complete embolization in 12 cases (22%). There were no adverse events such as inadvertent embolization, stroke or intracranial hemorrhage. Embolization was aborted when feeders collateralized with the IAC or ophthalmic artery or the vessel was unsuccessfully catheterized. Chi-squared univariate analysis was not significant (p=.329) for the effect of emboliztion on recurrence; however, trivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that when controlling for gross total resection and adjuvant radiotherapy, embolized tumors were less likely to recur (Hazard Ratio .549) during average follow-up of 31.8 months in age, sex and tumor size matched groups.
Conclusions: Particle embolization of petroclival meningiomas is a safe and useful adjunct to primary surgical resection and can reduce the risk of tumor recurrence
Patient Care: My research will improve patient care by allowing authors to understand what arteries commonly feed petroclival meningiomas, how the risk of embolization can be reduced by understanding dangerous collaterals, how surgical resection can be enhanced by the information gained from angiography, and by providing evidence that preoperative embolization may reduce the risk of tumor recurrence.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to discuss the importance of pre-operative embolization and identify the pitfalls of endovascular embolization in presence of dangerous collaterals, discuss in small groups how understanding angiographic anatomy can effect embolization and surgical success, and understand how embolization can potentially effect the long-term risk of tumor recurrence.
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