Posterior Fossa Hypervascular Tumour Embolisation

Abstract

Hemangioblastomas are histologically benign tumours that comprise 7–12% of all posterior fossa lesions. Treatment of these lesions is often complicated by the significant vascularity of the tumour and the difficult surgical resection in the sensitive neural tissue. In such situations, preoperative embolisation facilitates surgery by not only decreasing the intraoperative blood loss, but also by decreasing the total operative time and allowing a near complete resection of the tumour. Though infrequent, fatal complications can occur during preoperative embolisation procedures. We report two such cases in which the tumour bled during the procedure. In both cases, this was effectively managed by arterial pedicle occlusion with NBCA (N-Butyl Cyano acrylate). The early detection, immediate control and the possible causes of this complication is presented.