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Meningiomas: the Role of Preoperative Angiography and Embolization Neurosurg Focus 15 (1):Article 10, 2003, Click here to return to Table of Contents Meningiomas: the role of preoperative angiography and embolization CHRISTOPHER F. DOWD, M.D., VAN V. H ALBACH, M.D., AND RANDALL T. HIGASHIDA, M.D. The Neurovascular Medical Group, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California The field of interventional neuroradiology has experienced remarkable technological developments in microcath- eters and embolic materials during the past two decades. The realm of meningioma therapy has benefited handsome- ly from the combination of these technical improvements and the knowledge of experienced practitioners in this field. Transarterial embolization has become a standard procedure in the preoperative management of meningiomas. The authors describe the indications, pretreatment evaluation, techniques, and outcomes when preoperative angiography and embolization are performed in the treatment of these tumors. KEY WORDS • meningioma • embolization • angiography • brain tumor Meningiomas are extraaxial brain tumors derived from the principles involved in performing preoperative angi- arachnoid cells of neural crest origin. They are found ography and embolization for meningiomas. along the dural lining of the venous sinuses of the brain and skull base, locations where arachnoid cells are most ROLE OF PREOPERATIVE ANGIOGRAPHY plentiful. Thus, meningiomas are commonly found at the cerebral convexity, petrous ridge, sphenoid wing, tentori- AND EMBOLIZATION um, foramen magnum, cerebellopontine angle, and cav- Pretreatment Imaging Evaluation ernous sinus. They comprise 20% of primary intracranial tumors and are identified more commonly in older pa- Initial imaging evaluation often involves obtaining a CT tients and in women.18 Presenting signs and symptoms scan. Noncontrast CT scanning classically demonstrates depend on the lesion’s size and location and include head- a dural-based, homogeneous tumor of increased density ache, seizure, and neurological deficit due to local mass compared with surrounding brain, with variable mass ef- effect. With ever-increasing use of cross-sectional brain fect and surrounding edema. Hyperostosis of adjacent imaging, smaller, incidental meningiomas may be discov- bone is a common feature of the meningioma. Contrast administration produces dramatic homogeneous enhance- ered during imaging evaluation for unrelated symptoms. ment of the tumor and often reveals a dural tumor tail. During the past several decades, there have been rapid With its multiplanar capabilities, MR imaging provides technological developments in microcatheters and embol- additional information and good soft-tissue differentia- ic materials in the realm of interventional neuroradiology.2 tion. On T1-weighted MR images, the tumor is of equi- Combined with experience, these improvements have per- valent signal intensity compared with surrounding brain, mitted the adoption of safe and effective embolization and T2-weighted MR imaging reveals that the tumor sig- techniques for the preoperative treatment of meningiomas, nal is slightly increased compared with normal brain, but allowing simpler resection. In this paper we will outline less so than that of cerebrospinal fluid. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR imaging highlights surrounding Abbreviations used in this paper: CT = computerized tomogra- edema. With administration of Gd, MR imaging dem- phy; ECA = external carotid artery; ICA = internal carotid artery; onstrates homogeneous tumor enhancement. Absence of MMA = middle meningeal artery; MR = magnetic resonance; flow signal in an adjacent dural sinus may indicate that tu- VA = vertebral artery. mor invasion and occlusion of the sinus have occurred. Neurosurg. Focus / Volume 15 / July, 2003 1 Unauthenticated | Downloaded 09/23/21 09:53 AM UTC C. F. Dowd, V. V. Halbach, and R. T. Higashida Neuroimaging findings suggestive of atypical menin- gioma include tumor inhomogeneity (either before or after contrast administration), tumor margin irregularity, rapid interval growth, abundant surrounding edema, and mark- edly enlarged internal tumor vessels. Such features should prompt consideration of other, less common diagnoses such as hemangiopericytoma or angiosarcoma. Angiographic Evaluation Angiography is not generally indicated unless emboli- zation is planned. The classic angiographic appearance of a meningioma is that of increasing hypervascular tumor blush throughout the arterial phase, persisting well into the late venous phase with slow washout. Meningiomas are commonly supplied by dural arteries, which normal- ly supply the covering of the brain. Such arteries include the MMA, accessory meningeal, ascending pharyngeal, or occipital transmastoid perforating branches of the ECA (depending on the location of the tumor). Dural arteries also include the tentorial and inferolateral trunk branches Fig. 1. Contrast-enhanced axial CT scan obtained in a 59-year- of the ICA, as well as the posterior meningeal branch of old woman, revealing a well-circumscribed homogeneously en- the VA. Secondary supply to a meningioma may be de- hancing meningioma based along the left frontal dural convexity. rived from pial branches (branches of the anterior, middle, The lesion produces mass effect with midline shift and surround- and posterior cerebral arteries that supply the brain sub- ing edema. stance itself). Diagnostic angiography can also identify important information for the surgeon such as potential occlusion of a dural sinus adjacent to the tumor and the pattern of collateral venous drainage around such an oc- testing by injection of a small-dose cardiac lidocaine clusion. through the microcatheter has also be used to identify blood supply to cranial nerves beyond the microcatheter tip.9 The development of a temporary cranial nerve deficit Embolization Technique after such a provocative test increases the risk of emboli- The optimal treatment for meningiomas is complete zation and may warrant catheter repositioning before em- resection, when possible. Factors that can hinder extirpa- bolization. After the microcatheter has been properly and tion include tumor hypervascularity (which can compli- safely positioned, embolic material is injected under con- cate and lengthen the operation), encasement of major stant, real-time digital-subtraction fluoroscopy, to allow arteries or cranial nerves, and tumor involvement of a penetration of the material into the tumor bed, thereby dural venous sinus. Embolization involves the devascular- producing devascularization and subsequent necrosis. A ization of a tumor’s blood supply through the placement variety of embolic materials are available. In general, par- of an embolic agent via a microcatheter into the feeding ticulate agents (polyvinyl alcohol particles and acrylic arteries. Because meningiomas are usually quite vascular, microspheres3,4) are favored because of their relative ease preoperative embolization (Figs. 1 and 2) can ease com- of use, because the permanence of other agents such as plete tumor resection by diminishing operative time and liquid adhesive glue or ethanol is unnecessary in the pre- intraoperative blood loss.8,12 After a diagnostic arterio- operative setting, and because these liquid agents may gram is obtained to identify blood supply and to assess easily penetrate small normal arteries below the resolution safety and feasibility of embolization, a microcatheter (a of fluoroscopic units. Overly vigorous embolization must small-lumen, flexible catheter) is navigated through the be avoided because it can cause it can cause reflux of larger diagnostic angiography catheter and is directed embolic material into normal proximal branches. After the over a microguidewire to the artery supplying the tu- tumor has been embolized, in some instances (usually mor. Real-time digital-subtraction fluoroscopy (so-called when the MMA is involved), an occlusive microcoil can “road-mapping” technology) is essential for this maneu- be placed into the feeding artery proximal to the tumor ver. Superselective angiography is performed through the bed, permitting easier surgical transection of the artery. microcatheter to confirm its proper position and to identi- After the microcatheter is removed, postembolization an- fy any normal branches that might preclude safe emboli- giography is performed to evaluate the angiographic com- zation.15 The following must be identified and examined pleteness of embolization. Preoperative embolization of to avoid potentially disastrous complications: the distal in- the pial meningioma supply, which usually represents sec- ternal maxillary artery (potential communication with the ondary parasitized tumoral artery supply, is generally not ICA), the neuromeningeal trunk of the ascending pharyn- conducted because the risk of stroke can be greater than geal artery (supply to ninth, 10th and 11th cranial nerves), the potential benefit of embolization. The timing of sub- the odontoid branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery sequent surgery has been debated. Some practitioners (potential VA anastomosis), and the meningolacrimal have reported that the timing of embolization has no effect branch of the MMA (potential retinal supply). Provocative on ease of tumor resection,16 whereas others have advo- 2 Neurosurg. Focus / Volume 15 / July, 2003 Unauthenticated | Downloaded 09/23/21 09:53 AM UTC Angiography and embolization of meningiomas of complications, including tumoral22 and subarachnoid10 hemorrhage, scalp
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