Polyvinyl Foam Embolization of Vascular and Neoplastic Lesions of the Head, Neck, and Spine

Abstract

Embolization of vascular and neoplastic lesions of the head, neck, and spine may be performed either as primary therapy (particularly for lesions which are difficult to approach surgically) or preoperatively to decrease blood loss. Polyvinyl alcohol foam (PAF) offers a number of advantages over other embolic material, including biocompatibility, promotion of progressive thrombosis and fibrosis, permanence, compressibility, and manageability. The clinical cases illustrate the kinds of lesions that are amenable to embolization, including arteriovenous malformations, arteriovenous fistulas, meningiomas, and nasopharyngeal tumors. Techniques and possible complications are discussed.

Expanded Core/Shell Poly(vinyl acetate)/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Particles for Embolization

“…[1] Thus, the tumoral region tends to shrink and eventually die, allowing for the recuperation of the unhealthy tissue after some time. [2] Different types of materials have been (and still are) developed and tested for use in embolization procedures, such as metallic coils, silicone rubber and carbon microspheres, [3] dextran beads, [4] gelatin sponges, [5] and poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) particles. [6] Among them, PVA particles are the materials that have been used most frequently due to their inherent advantageous mechanical and physico-chemical properties, such as the biocompatibility and capacity to reassume its original shape after compression, when the PVA foam is put in contact with blood.…”

Estudo comparativo da reação inflamatória renal entre álcool de polivinil - flocular e álcool de polivinil + acetato de polivinil - esférico: estudo experimental

“…Diferentes materiais têm sido relatados na literatura mundial como úteis para embolização tais como, molas metálicas, borracha de silicone, microesferas de carbono e partículas de PVA 3 . Em todos os casos deve-se observar a compatibilidade entre a granulometria …”

Preoperative Tumor Embolization

“…While PVA embolization is long lasting, it is not permanent, with degradation generally occurring within a few weeks after embolization. It produces a vigorous infl ammatory response that facilitates vessel occlusion through progressive thrombosis [ 9 ]. This infl ammatory reaction may partially account for the associated peritumoral edema following PVA embolization.…”