Comprehensive management of symptomatic and aggressive vertebral hemangiomas.

Conservative surgical strategies are appropriate for most symptomatic hemangiomas causing cord compression without instability or deformity. Even so, complete intralesional spondylectomy following embolization of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas with circumferential vertebral involvement can be safely accomplished. Such a spondylectomy can also prevent recurrence of hemangiomas. Transarterial embolization without decompression is an effective treatment for painful intraosseous hemangiomas. Vertebroplasty is useful for improving pain symptoms, especially when vertebral body compression fracture has occurred in patients without neurological deficit, but is less effective in providing long-term pain relief.