Efficacy and safety of ethanol injections in 18 cases of vertebral hemangioma: a mean follow-up of 2 years

Abstract

Study design: The clinical records and radiographs of 18 patients with vertebral hemangiomas treated with ethanol vertebroplasty were reviewed to evaluate the usefulness of this method.

Objectives: To assess, after a mean 2-year follow-up, the complication rate, results, and patient satisfaction with ethanol injection into vertebral hemangioma.

Summary of background data: There is controversy about the safety of ethanol injections in the treatment of vertebral hemangiomas.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with vertebral hemangiomas were prepared for ethanol vertebroplasty. Eighteen patients were treated with ethanol vertebroplasty (average age, 49 years; range, 18-77 years) with a mean follow-up of 2 years (range, 1-4 years). The rest of the patients were not treated with ethanol vertebroplasty because in a pretreatment test injection the contrast medium was not retained by the hemangioma.

Results: Intralesional injections of alcohol did not cause clinical complications in any of the cases.

Conclusions: This study shows that intralesional alcohol injections can be considered a safe technique for vertebral hemangiomas. However, a careful technique is required.