Endovascular prelude for delicate meningeoma operation: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Embolization prior to surgery can make tumor resection less complicated by reducing blood loss during surgery and shortening the time of the operation. Case report: In this paper, we presented a case of a sixty-three-year-old woman who was admitted to the Clinic of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center Niš, Serbia, at November 2016, after she underwent a CT brain scan that showed a large tumor of the left cerebellopontile angle. Digital subtraction angiography presented a large, highly vascularized tumor lesion that compressed the brain stem. The patient underwent endovascular procedure, and complete embolization of the tumor vessels was established. The radiologist delivered embolization material via the left ascending pharyngeal artery. In the next 24 hours, an operation was performed i.e. radical extirpation surgery (Simpson grade I). Postoperatively, the patient's GCS was 15, with no new neurological deficit. Postoperative brain CT scan showed neither rest tumor nor blood clot inside the tumor bed. Pathohistological finding revealed atypical meningioma grade II. Conclusion: Despite some clinicians' dilemma considering the utility of preoperative embolization of meningioma vessels, we believe that a team of educated and dedicated radiologist and neurosurgeon could achieve great results in resection of large and inaccessible cranial tumors.