Preoperative Embolization in Surgical Management of Hypervascular Spinal Column Tumors

Abstract

with pain, mechanical instability, and neurologic complications that may adversely affect a patient’s activities of daily living and quality of life. In some cases, surgery is the preferred treatment modality. When surgical excision is planned, preoperative embolization of spinal tumors helps to reduce intraoperative blood loss, making surgery safer. In addition, in patients with poor functional reserve or unresectable tumors, preoperative embolization can be used to palliate pain and improve neurologic symptoms. Before performing spinal tumor embolization, detailed knowledge of the spinal vascular anatomy, indications, contraindications, and potential complications is required.