Objective: To retrospectively assess the effectiveness of percutaneous embolization for curative, preoperative or palliative management of hypervascular neoplasms, vascular malformations and bleedings of the head and neck area.
Methods: A retrospective 8-year analysis of outcomes in 85 patients undergoing preoperative embolization for tumors or vascular lesions of the head and neck or embolization for refractory tumor bleeding and epistaxis at our hospitals was performed by reviewing case records. Outcome of the preoperatively embolized patients was defined as successful if intraoperative bleeding was <500 ml and/or postinterventional angiogram showed complete occlusion of all tumor-feeding or bleeding vessels.
Results: Complete preoperative tumor embolization was achieved in 83.5% of the patients. Partial embolization was possible in 10.5%. All tumor bleedings refractory to conservative therapy and bleedings from epistaxis showed a successful outcome.
Conclusions: In vascular lesions and tumors of the head and neck, preoperative percutaneous embolization improved the surgical outcome, reduced intraoperative blood loss significantly and facilitated tumor resectability. Cervicofacial bleeding resulting from a tumor, vascular malformation or epistaxis can be managed effectively by endovascular techniques.