Bone Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bone Cancer, including details on symptoms, types, treatment.

Vascular lesions of the skull base: endovascular prospective for the otolaryngologist.

Robinson DH

Vascular Center, Section of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. raddhr@vmmc.org

With continual advances being made in endovascular equipment and techniques, the role that these image-guided, minimally invasive therapies play in the multidisciplinary management of vascular lesions of the skull base will probably continue to expand. The introduction of emerging technologies, including the development and implementation of implantable bioactive devices such as drug-eluting stents, bioactive embolic coils, and bioactive particulate embolic materials, will provide an increasing array of options for these patients. This article has reviewed the basic concepts of embolization and revascularization for vascular lesions of the skull base encountered by the practicing otolaryngologist. These concepts can provide a framework for collaboration between the otolaryngologist and neuroendovascular operator in a cooperative approach to these patients. The importance of detailed knowledge of the vascular anatomy of the skull base when dealing with these lesions, the concept of dangerous anastomoses, several clinically useful classification schemes for these lesions, and basic endovascular techniques of embolization and revascularization have been highlighted.

Published 11 July 2005 in Otolaryngol Clin North Am, 38(4): 737-71.
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