Neurologic Complications after Particle Embolization of

used to facilitate surgery and to reduce intraoperative blood loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of procedure-related neurologic complications during and after particle embolization of intracranial meningiomas. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2004, 185 consecutive patients underwent particle emboliza-tion of an intracranial meningioma. Devascularization was performed by means of superselec-tive probing of the tumor-feeding vessels and ensuing free-flow embolization with spherical particles. All procedures were performed with systemic heparinization. RESULTS: Six patients (3.2%) had ischemic events with neurologic deficit. Two had amau-rosis, and four patients presented with hemiparesis. Hemorrhage occurred in six patients (3.2%). In five of these patients, rapid microsurgical tumor removal resulted in a favorable outcome without persistent neurologic deficit. In one patient, massive intratumoral, subarach-noid, and subdural hemorrhage was lethal. CONCLUSION: Particle embolization of meningiomas is associated with a substantial risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic events. The individual risk-to-benefit ratio of embolization should be thoroughly considered