Case Report: Preoperative embolization for a large intracranial pheochromocytoma metastasis: a novel approach to minimize intraoperative risk

To report the first use of preoperative embolization for an intracranial pheochromocytoma metastasis and its effects on intraoperative risks.

Case Presentation: A 65-year-old woman with a history of metastatic pheochromocytoma presented with a 7.8 × 6.0 cm hypervascular left parietal mass causing neurological symptoms.
Multidisciplinary Planning: A multidisciplinary team planned preoperative alpha-adrenergic blockade and embolization to minimize intraoperative risks.
Embolization Procedure: Superselective transarterial embolization was performed, achieving near-complete devascularization of the tumor.

Preoperative embolization was successfully performed for an intracranial pheochromocytoma metastasis.
The procedure resulted in reduced intraoperative hemorrhage and catecholamine release.
Postoperative outcomes included normalization of catecholamines and significant neurological improvement.

The case represents a single instance and may not be generalizable to all patients with similar conditions.
Lack of prior reports on the use of embolization in intracranial pheochromocytoma limits comparative analysis.