Abstract
Objective: 1) Histopathologically characterize glomus jugulare paragangliomas preoperatively embolized with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAC). 2) Describe histopathological differences between glomus jugulare paragangliomas preoperatively embolized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and EVAC. Method: Case series of glomus jugulare paragangliomas preoperatively embolized with EVAC. The tumors were subsequently resected at a tertiary care center between 2003 and 2010. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected, and histopathological analysis of the preoperatively embolized tumors was performed. Results: Glomus jugulare paragangliomas embolized with EVAC demonstrated 100% or near 100% occlusion of arterial vessels by histopathological analysis, whereas in previous studies PVA demonstrated a significantly lower percentage of embolization. Even when resection was performed several months after embolization, there was no revascularization of EVAC embolized vessels, whereas PVA embolized vessels have demonstrated partial revascularization. In one patient whose tumor was not completely resected after embolization with EVAC, there was no evidence of subsequent growth of the remnant disease. Conclusion: Histopathological analysis of preoperatively embolized glomus jugulare paragangliomas indicates that EVAC provides a more thorough and longer lasting embolic profile than PVA.