Preoperative Onyx embolization of hypervascular head, neck, and spinal tumors: experience with 100 consecutive cases from a single tertiary center.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Preoperative embolization of head, neck, and spinal tumors is frequently used to control tumor bleeding, reduce operative time, and achieve better resection. Numerous embolic materials have been used. The use of the liquid embolic agent Onyx is rapidly increasing but current experience is limited to small case series. Our purpose was to evaluate the indications, techniques, angiographic devascularization, blood loss, outcome, and general efficacy of preoperative tumor embolization with Onyx in a large series. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive cases of head, neck, and spinal tumors embolized with Onyx and prospective follow-up. RESULTS: 100 patients (63 women, 37 men) were included. Tumors included 39 meningiomas, 23 metastases, 16 parangliomas, five juvenile nasal angiofibromas, five giant cell bone tumors, three Ewing's sarcomas, three hemangiomas, three hemangioblastomas, two multiple myelomas, and one osteoblastoma. In all patients, angiographic analysis of the feeding arteries and branches was performed and all embolizations were completed in a single session. Additional materials were used in 28 patients. No mortality or major complications were observed. Minor complications were seen in 11 patients. 85 patients underwent surgery; 79 within the next 48 h and six of them 4-188 days after embolization. CONCLUSIONS: Embolization of intracranial, head, neck, and spinal tumors with Onyx is effective and safe by a transarterial route or by direct puncture. Onyx penetrates well into the tumor capillary with less arterial catheterization. Studies are necessary to establish long term utility in adjunct or palliative tumor embolization.

Importance of proper patient selection and endpoint selection in evaluation of new therapies in acute stroke: further analysis of the SENTIS trial.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of treatment effect in acute stroke depends on several factors, including time from symptom onset (TFSO) to treatment and severity of the initial insult. OBJECTIVE: To report further evaluation of NeuroFlo therapy, focusing on the effect of time and stroke severity. METHODS: SENTIS was a prospective randomized trial (N=515) comparing standard medical therapy with/without NeuroFlo therapy. For this analysis, we evaluated outcomes in groups of patients based on TFSO and stroke severity: patients randomized <6 h, 6-10 h, and >10 h with mild (NIHSS<8), moderate (8-14), and severe (>14) symptoms at randomization. 90-Day mRS (modified Rankin Scale) scores and stroke-related death rates were compared between treatment groups. RESULTS: For patients randomized <6 h TFSO (n=128), the OR for mRS 0-2 was 3.11 (CI 1.30 to 7.46, p=0.011) for treated versus non-treated patients. In patients with disease of moderate severity (NIHSS 8-14, n=214), NeuroFlo-treated patients were more likely to have a good outcome (mRS 0-2; OR=1.84, CI 1.02 to 3.33, p=0.043). The stroke-related death rate was better in the treated group with TFSO >10 h and NIHSS >14 (n=42) (OR=7.10, CI 1.13 to 44.55, p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our analysis support the importance of careful selection of outcome measures and the impact that rapid treatment and initial stroke severity have on outcome.