GADOLINIUM-ENHANCED MR IN THE EVALUATION OF PREOPERATIVE MENINGIOMA EMBOLIZATION

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of postembolization gadolinium-enhanced M R imaging as a means to judge the efficacy of tumor embolization. METH ODS: Fifteen patients with meningiomas were prospectively studied. The following data were evaluated for each tumor: the percentage of vascu lar supply to the tumor arising from the internal and external carotid arteries; the percentage of the tumor embolized as judged by angiogra phy, by MR imaging, and by CT scanning; the estimated blood loss accor ding to the surgeon; and histologic evidence of necrosis as seen by th e neuropathologist. RESULTS: The data reveal an excellent correlation between the amount of tumor embolized as estimated by MR and both the estimated blood loss at time of surgery and the presence of histologic al necrosis in the specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Postembolization gadolinium- enhanced MR is an excellent means to evaluate the efficacy of an embol ization and offers certain advantages over CT and angiography. One imp ortant advantage of this technique lies in the fact that it can be per formed immediately postembolization.