Catheter therapy: fluoroscopic monitoring of deliberate embolic occlusion.

In the deliberate embolic occlusion of arteriovenous malformations (AVM's and vascular tumors, complications can occur when emboli pass into arteries supplying normal structures. Maximum safety and precision is gained by direct fluoroscopic visualization of the occlusion process done by suspending the particles in a contrast agent and monitoring the ever-decreasing vessel runoff. The technique has been useful in the treatment of intra- and extracranial AVM's and tumors.