Per-operative glue embolization with surgical decompression: A multimodality treatment for aggressive vertebral haemangioma

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to share our experience in per-operative embolization of aggressive vertebral haemangioma and to compare the surgical outcome with existing modalities of management.BackgroundVertebral haemangioma accounts for 12% of benign lesions of the vertebral column detected incidentally. Rarely they may enlarge, cause pain and neurological deficit because of spinal cord compression, vertebral body or arch expansion, or pathological fracture. Treatment options for symptomatic vertebral haemangioma include pre-operative transarterial embolization, surgical excision, radiotherapy, and percutaneous injection of alcohol or methyl methacrylate. We present our experience of per-operative glue embolization for aggressive (Enneking stage 3) vertebral haemangiomas.Materials and methodsWe describe five patients with symptomatic vertebral haemangioma at the dorsal level who underwent per-operative glue embolization. After initial laminectomy, a tumorogram was obtained under fluoroscopic guidan...