Embolization in the external carotid artery

Abstract

The technical skill set of peripheral interventional radiologists is well-suited to the performance of most transcatheter embolization procedures in the external carotid artery (ECA). These procedures center in large part on hypervascular tumors, epistaxis, and trauma. ECA embolization in the trauma patient is well-defined, albeit in small patient series. The transcatheter treatment of epistaxis is still mostly reserved for cases that are intractable to conservative therapy. Preoperative embolotherapy for vascular tumors remains popular, although it is somewhat controversial in terms of its risk-benefit ratio. The purpose of this review is to highlight pertinent anatomy, selected technical procedural aspects, and the available literature to better characterize the role of ECA embolization in the hands of the practicing peripheral interventionist.