AUTHOR=Yin Yi , Li Yuhong , Jiang Zhouyang , Zhang Chao , Ge Hongfei , Chen Zhi , Hu Rong , Chen Yujie , Li Xuegang , Li Fei , Feng Hua 

TITLE=Clinical Outcomes and Complications of Preoperative Embolization for Intracranial Giant Meningioma Tumorectomy: A Retrospective, Observational, Matched Cohort Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.852327

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2022.852327

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>The potential benefits of preoperative embolization for intracranial meningiomas are still under debate. We aimed to investigate whether preoperative embolization can improve surgical and functional outcomes, based on controlling patient- and tumor-related confounding factors.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We reviewed all meningioma cases in our department from January 2016 to May 2021. Cases in the nonembolization cohort were matched to the embolization cohort by 1:1 ratio propensity score matching, through controlling patient- and tumor-related confounds. Surgical outcomes, complications, and functional outcomes were retrospectively compared between these two groups.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Sixty-six cases in each group were included in our study after being matched. We did not find any significant differences of estimated blood loss (600.00 (400) vs. 500.00 (500.00) ml, <italic>p</italic> = 0.31), decrease of HGB level (30.81 ± 15.82 vs. 26.59 ± 12.90 g/L, <italic>p</italic> = 0.09), gross total resection rate (74.24% vs. 77.27%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.68), surgical time (302.50 (136) vs. 300.00 (72) min, <italic>p</italic> = 0.48), blood transfusion rates (53.03% vs. 42.42%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.35), blood transfusion volume [650.00 (657.50) vs. 535.00 (875.00) ml, <italic>p</italic> = 0.63] between the embolization group and nonembolization group. The number of patients who experience postsurgery complications were significantly higher in the nonembolization group (39.39% vs. 21.21%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.02). Patients in the nonembolization group were more likely to have a higher rate of mRS decline postsurgery (31.82% vs. 15.15%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.04).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Our study showed significant lower rates of surgical complications and long-term disabilities of meningioma patients treated with preoperative embolization. There were no significant differences in estimated blood loss, surgical time, and blood transfusion volume between embolization and nonembolization groups.</p></sec>