Middle meningeal artery embolization in chronic subdural hematoma: a paradigm shift?

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Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) incidence is 8–17 per 100,000 persons annually, increasing significantly with age.
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The recurrence rate of cSDH after surgical evacuation ranges from 10% to 20%, leading to increased patient morbidity and healthcare costs.
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Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has emerged as a potential treatment to reduce cSDH recurrence by targeting underlying pathophysiology.
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Recent randomized controlled trials indicate that MMA embolization significantly reduces hematoma recurrence compared to conventional surgical methods.
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The EMBOLISE trial showed a three-fold reduction in hematoma recurrence with MMA embolization, while the MAGIC-MT trial suggested modest benefits.

European Radiology

by Yan Li, Johannes Haubold, Natalie van Landeghem, Cornelius Deuschl, Ramazan Jabbarli, Philipp Dammann, Ulrich Sure, Isabel Wanke, Luisa Strack, Michael Forsting
June 10, 2026

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