Facilitation of removal of a hypervascularized cervical vertebral body tumour by intraoperative temporary occlusion of the tumour-feeding vertebral artery, using intraarterial catheterization.

The surgical treatment of a highly vascularized tumour that destroyed the fourth cervical vertebral body in a young patient, without neurological deficits, is reported. After posterior stabilization an anterior approach was used in order to replace the affected vertebral body with an acrylic prosthesis. The tumour-feeding vessels originated largely from the right vertebral artery. In order to maintain optimal visibility, intraoperative haemorrhage was kept at a minimum by temporarily occluding the tumour-feeding vertebral artery with an intraarterial catheter.