Preoperative and therapeutic embolization of extremities of bone and soft tissue tumors

Preoperative Arterial Embolization of Musculoskeletal Tumors: A Tertiary Center Experience

The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of preoperative transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of musculoskeletal tumors in terms of blood loss and functional outcomes. Patients who underwent preoperative TAE of hypervascular musculoskeletal tumors between January 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively included. The patients' characteristics, TAE procedure details, degree of post-TAE devascularization, surgical outcomes in terms of red blood cell transfusion and functional results were collected. The degree of devascularization was compared between patients who had peri-operative transfusion and those who did not. Thirty-one patients were included. The 31 TAE procedures led to complete (58%) or near-complete (42%) tumor devascularization. Twenty-two patients (71%) had no blood transfusion during surgery. Nine patients (29%) had a blood transfusion, with a median number of red blood cell packs of three (q1, 2; q3, 4; range: 1-4). Eight patients (27%) had complete improvement of the initial musculoskeletal symptoms at the end of the follow-up, 15 (50%) had partially satisfying improvement, 4 (13%) had partially unsatisfying improvement and 3 (10%) had no improvement. Our study suggests that preoperative TAE of hypervascular musculoskeletal tumors allowed for bloodless surgery in 71% of patients and minimal transfusion needs for the remaining 29%.

Current updates in image-guided musculoskeletal interventions

Image-guided musculoskeletal interventions are frequently done in clinical practice. Even then, the literature regarding their effectiveness is relatively scarce. Image guidance adds value over the conventional landmark-based approach and should be preferred. We hereby try to list the commonly performed procedures along with the current practice guidelines regarding their clinical indications and periprocedural care.

Endovascular approaches in pediatric interventional oncology

The demand for interventional oncological (IO) treatment of pediatric cancers is becoming increasingly common, at least at several tertiary care institutions. The data and techniques used in pediatric IO are largely extrapolated from experience in adult patients. The management of pediatric tumors differs from that in adults in several categories, such as, the curative intent of treatment, wide use of general anesthesia, aggressive pain management, potentially longer hospital stay, variation in chemotherapy dosing etc. Additionally, pediatric cancers are managed by protocols directed by national and international oncology groups such as the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Consequently, the translation and adoption of these techniques is gradual, but there is a noticeable uptrend due to the growing need. This review will update the current endovascular IO treatments for common pediatric liver, renal, bone and soft tissue tumors.

Preoperative embolization of primary bone tumors: A case control study

AIM: To study the safety and effectiveness of preoperative embolization of primary bone tumors in relation to intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion volume and surgical time.

METHODS: Thirty-three patients underwent preoperative embolization of primary tumors of extremities, hip or vertebrae before resection and stabilization. The primary osseous tumors included giant cell tumors, aneurysmal bone cyst, osteoblastoma, chondroblastoma and chondrosarcoma. Twenty-six patients were included for the statistical analysis (embolization group) as they were operated within 0-48 h within preoperative embolization. A control group (non-embolization group, n = 28) with bone tumor having similar histological diagnosis and operated without embolization was retrieved from hospital record for statistical comparison.

RESULTS: The mean intraoperative blood loss was 1300 mL (250-2900 mL), the mean intraoperative blood transfusion was 700 mL (0-1400 mL) and the mean surgical time was 221 ± 76.7 min for embolization group (group I, n = 26). Non-embolization group (group II, n = 28), the mean intraoperative blood loss was 1800 mL (800-6000 mL), the mean intraoperative blood transfusion was 1400 mL (700-8400 mL) and the mean surgical time was 250 ± 69.7 min. On comparison, statistically significant (P < 0.001) difference was found between embolisation group and non-embolisation group for the amount of blood loss and requirement of blood transfusion. There was no statistical difference between the two groups for the surgical time. No patients developed any angiography or embolization related complications.

CONCLUSION: Preoperative embolization of bone tumors is a safe and effective adjunct to the surgical management of primary bone tumors that leads to reduction in intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion volume.