Urgent and emergent embolization of lesions of the head and neck in children: indications and results.

Indications for and results and complications of embolization of lesions of the head and neck were analyzed retrospectively. The procedures were performed since 1980 on an emergent or urgent basis in 30 infants and children by an experienced interventional neuroradiologist in Bicetre, France. Indications for embolization included hemorrhage, occular occlusion, respiratory obstruction, CNS complications or potential complications, interference with nutrition, and functional impairment related to the effect of the lesion on the developing facial skeleton and teeth. The specific lesions included seven hemangiomas (palpebral, subglottic, and nasal) and 20 vascular malformations (maxillofacial, auricular, dural, cerebral [including three vein of Galen malformations] and spinomedullary). Embolization was efficacious in 28 of 30 patients. Hemangiomas (potentially involutive tumors) responded dramatically with arrest of the proliferative phase and shrinking of the mass. Combined hemovascular lymphatic malformations (hemolymphangiomas) of the tongue demonstrated a variable decrease in size. High-flow evolutive arteriovenous malformations involving the teeth and dura were controlled but required multiple embolizations. One infant with a vein of Galen arteriovenous malformation died. Three local complications occurred in two patients. No cerebral ischemic or femoral artery complications occurred.