Pulmonary Cement Embolism After Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Abstract

Percutaneous vertebroplasty consists of injection of acrylic cement - polymethylmethacrylate - into a vertebral body to obtain pain relief and increase its mechanical stability. The procedure is indicated for painful hemangiomas and for painful vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis or malignancy. Although vertebroplasty is an efficient treatment, it is not free of complications. We present the case of a patient with pulmonary cement embolism after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Because such patients may be completely asymptomatic, but may also present with acute and severe, cardiovascular instability, clinicians and nuclear physicians should be aware that pulmonary embolism of polymethylmethacrylate may occur after percutaneous vertebroplasty.