ABSTRACT
In an open, prospective study, we embolised intracranial meningiomas in seven patients, without subsequent surgery. Follow-up over a mean of 20 months included serial neurological examination, MRI and MR spectroscopy. Clinically, embolisation had no adverse effects. Symptomatic patients showed clinical improvement. On MRI marked tumour shrinkage occurred after embolisation in six patients, and was most pronounced during the first 6 months. In a young boy the tumour was unchanged despite complete angiographic devascularisation. Embolisation without subsequent surgery may cause substantial tumour shrinkage and thus be used in selected in patients. However, thorough follow-up is mandatory to ascertain the effects of embolisation.
Subject(s)
Embolization, Therapeutic , Meningioma/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Alanine/metabolism , Angiography , Child , Choline/metabolism , Creatine/metabolism , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Male , Meningioma/complications , Middle Aged , Neurologic Examination , Postoperative Complications , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
We describe our experience with follow-up MR imaging and MR spectroscopy in two patients after embolization of meningiomas without subsequent surgery. In both patients there was a marked reduction in tumor size and a decrease in contrast enhancement associated with spectroscopic signs of fatty degeneration. We did not observe regrowth; however, in one patient with incomplete angiographic devascularization, residual vital tumor tissue was seen at follow-up examinations.
