Clinical study of embolization of arteriovenous malformation in the oral and maxillofacial region.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of embolization on arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in the oral and maxillofacial region and to investigate the efficacy of several different embolic materials.

CLINICAL MATERIALS AND

METHODS

10 cases with AVMs, including 5 AVMs mainly in the soft tissue and 5 intraosseous lesions, were embolized. Clinical and angiographic effects were analyzed during the 3 to 16 months follow-up.

RESULTS

In the 5 cases embolized without other treatment, 1 case was embolized 3 times, 3 cases twice, and 1 case once. In these cases, postembolization angiograms revealed complete or nearly complete disappearance of the lesions. In the other 5 cases, embolized before surgery, intraoperative bleeding was significantly decreased. All these patients were free of recurrence during follow-up. Among the materials employed, NBCA seemed to offer a better result.

CONCLUSIONS

Embolization may serve as the primary therapy for some AVMs in the oral and maxillofacial region, or as a routine preoperative adjunct for patients with severe intraosseous or disfiguring AVMs.