TUMOR EMBOLIZATION

 Preoperative tumor embolization for tumors of the brain and spine is offered as an adjunct to open surgery. 

Large tumors or tumors that are susceptible to bleed during the surgery  require embolization to decrease the amount of blood supply prior to the surgical resection.  

Embolization is done under X- ray guidance. A catheter is brought up through the femoral artery (artery in the groin) or the Radial (artery in the wrist) selectively into the blood vessel of interest that is feeding the tumor. 

Pictures of the blood vessels are taken and if appropriate a glue type material is then injected into the feeding blood vessels to reduce the flow of blood to the tumor.  

This procedure is usually done prior to a few days of the surgery.  By doing preoperative embolization, the need for blood transfusions and the duration of the operations is decreased.  

This procedure is almost always performed in coordination with the Neurosurgeon performing the open surgery.