Migration of lipiodol into lateral ventricles after embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformation: a case report

Br J Neurosurg. 2023 Aug;37(4):604-607. doi: 10.1080/02688697.2019.1648755. Epub 2019 Jul 31.

Abstract

N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) has been used to embolise brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) for over 30 years. It is a mixed with lipiodol in varying proportions. We report a 22-year-old male with intraventricular hemorrhage from a ruptured intranidal AVM aneurysm in the left temporal lobe. The intranidal aneurysm and the nidus were successfully embolized using a 20% NBCA and lipiodol mixture without any complications according to computed tomography (CT) immediately after treatment. Scattered high-density spots were observed in both lateral ventricles on CT 5 days after embolization, suggesting migration of lipiodol. We speculated that the aneurysm was a pseudoaneurysm whose wall protruded into the inferior horn of the left lateral ventricle, and the lipiodol in the NBCA migrated into the ventricles after the thin part of the wall ruptured. The patient developed pyrexia due to chemical meningitis, which responded to steroid treatment for one month.

Keywords: NBCA; arteriovenous malformation; endovascular surgery; lipiodol.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured* / complications
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured* / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured* / therapy
  • Embolization, Therapeutic* / adverse effects
  • Embolization, Therapeutic* / methods
  • Enbucrilate* / therapeutic use
  • Ethiodized Oil
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* / complications
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* / diagnostic imaging
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* / therapy
  • Lateral Ventricles
  • Male
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Ethiodized Oil
  • Enbucrilate