Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the impacts of solid versus liquid embolization materials during preoperative embolization of intracranial tumors. METHODS: Relevant articles from January 1975 to September 2024 were included. Meta-analysis focused on average operation duration and estimated blood loss. Heterogeneity was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 7 retrospective studies were included, in which a total of 361 patients met the criteria and were thus included. There were 220 female patients, accounting for 60.9%. The patients were divided into the liquid embolization group and the solid embolization group. We discovered that during the preoperative embolization of intracranial tumors, the selection of liquid versus solid materials did not significantly influence the estimated blood loss (MD = -98.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] - 290 ~ 93). Additionally, in terms of the impact on surgical operation duration, no significant statistical difference was observed between the two groups either (MD = 5.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] - 55 ~ 43). CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis reveals that, in patients undergoing preoperative embolization of intracranial tumors, there is no significant statistical difference in operation duration and estimated blood loss in the surgical resection of intracranial tumors among different preoperative embolization materials during subsequent tumor resection procedures. Material selection should be individualized based on tumor characteristics and operator expertise.