Evolving indications for pediatric neurointerventional radiology: A single institutional 25-year experience in infants less than one year of age and a brief historical review

Abstract

Background and Purpose Pediatric neurointerventional radiology is an evolving subspecialty with growing indications and technological advancement such as miniaturization of devices and decreased radiation dose. The ability to perform these procedures is continuously balanced with necessity given the inherently higher risks of radiation and cerebrovascular injury in infants. The purpose of this study is to review our institution's neurointerventional experience in infants less than one year of age to elucidate trends in this patient population. Methods We retrospectively identified 132 patients from a neurointerventional database spanning 25 years (1997–2022) who underwent 226 procedures. Treatment type, indication, and location as well as patient demographics were extracted from the medical record. Results Neurointerventional procedures were performed as early as day of life 0 in a patient with an arteriovenous shunting malformation. Average age of intervention in the first year of life is 5.9 months. Thirty-eight of 226 procedures were completed in neonates. Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for the treatment of retinoblastoma comprised 36% of neurointerventional procedures completed in infants less than one year of age followed by low flow vascular malformations (21.2%), vein of Galen malformations (11.5%), and dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) (9.3%). Less frequent indications include non-Galenic pial AVF (4.4%) and tumor embolization (3.0%). The total number of interventions has increased secondary to the onset of retinoblastoma treatment in 2010 at our institution. Conclusion The introduction of IAC for the treatment of retinoblastoma in the last decade is the primary driver for the increased trend in neurointerventional procedures completed in infants from 1997 to 2022.