J Korean Radiol Soc.  2003 Feb;48(2):159-162. 10.3348/jkrs.2003.48.2.159.

Pulmonary Embolism Caused by Acrylic Cement: Report of Two Cases Developed as a Complication of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

• Kim CS
• Lee KN

• KMID: 2103718
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2003.48.2.159

Abstract

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures, and is a technique for treating lower back pain that appears to be increasingly popular throughout the world. We experienced two cases involving a rare complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty, namely pulmonary embolism caused by acrylic cement. One patient showed no subjective symptoms after vertebroplasty, while the other experienced chest pain. In the former, fluoroscopy demonstrated perivertebral venous leakage during vertebroplasty, and at chest radiography, tubular or branching high-density linear structures were observed. In addition, intravascular emboli were identified at CT. In the second patient, symptomatic therapy led to reduced chest pain.

Keyword

Lung, embolisms; Spine, interventional procedures

MeSH Terms

Chest Pain
Fluoroscopy
Fractures, Compression
Humans
Low Back Pain
Pulmonary Embolism*
Radiography
Thorax
Vertebroplasty*