Percutaneous ethanol embolization and cement augmentation of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas at two adjacent vertebral levels

Alessandro Cianfoni; Francesco Massari; Genta Dani; Jonathan R Lena; Zoran Rumboldt; William A Vandergrift; Giuseppe Bonaldi

doi:10.1016/j.neurad.2012.10.003

Percutaneous ethanol embolization and cement augmentation of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas at two adjacent vertebral levels

J Neuroradiol. 2014 Oct;41(4):269-74. doi: 10.1016/j.neurad.2012.10.003. Epub 2013 Feb 16.

Authors

Alessandro Cianfoni¹, Francesco Massari², Genta Dani³, Jonathan R Lena⁴, Zoran Rumboldt⁵, William A Vandergrift⁶, Giuseppe Bonaldi⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 169, Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Neuroradiology, Neurocenter of Italian Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 169, Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 169, Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of Neurological Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 169, Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 169, Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Department of Neurological Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 169, Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Neuroradiology Unit, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 23419714
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2012.10.003

Abstract

This report describes a case of successful percutaneous direct-puncture ethanol embolization, followed by vertebroplasty, of an aggressive vertebral hemangioma (VH) involving two adjacent thoracic vertebral levels. In this case, the 78-year-old male patient presented with a 6-month history of progressive paraparesis due to spinal cord compression by a T8-T9 VH with an extensive epidural component. Follow-up demonstrated epidural component shrinkage with complete regression of symptoms at 3 months. This case suggests that exclusive percutaneous treatment may be considered for symptomatic VH even when two adjacent vertebral levels are affected.

Keywords: Ethanol embolization; Spine; Vertebral hemangiomas; Vertebroplasty.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Bone Cements / therapeutic use*
Combined Modality Therapy / methods
Embolization, Therapeutic / methods*
Ethanol / therapeutic use*
Hemangioma / diagnosis
Hemangioma / therapy*
Humans
Male
Spinal Neoplasms / diagnosis
Spinal Neoplasms / therapy*
Thoracic Vertebrae*
Treatment Outcome
Vertebroplasty / methods*

Substances

Bone Cements
Ethanol