[Balloon catheter technic and embolization--new therapeutic approaches in cerebral and spinal blood vessel malformations].

Balloon catheter and embolization techniques continue to gain importance in the therapy of cerebral and spinal vascular malformations. These methods are applied either preoperatively to improve outset conditions for the operation or as an independent therapeutic measure to partially or completely bypass the malformation. So far the balloon catheter and embolization techniques are applied only within a limited field. Nevertheless, this fairly recently developed method is already indispensable in the therapeutic repertory. There are as yet no generally acknowledged principles with regard to indications for these procedures. Therefore, neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists have to be included in the process of decision making.