Hydrolysed microspheres from cross-linked polymethyl methacrylate (Hydrogel). A new embolic material for interventional neuroradiology.

Highly hydrophilic, perfectly smooth and spherical microspheres have been synthetized. These non-biodegradable microspheres absorb water in varying degrees and can be injected easily through microcatheters due to their slippery and compressible characteristics. The material was successfully used for embolization of 4 vascular intracranial tumours and 2 spinal vascular lesions in the cervical region, by superselective delivery. Histopathology confirmed absolute inertness of the microspheres.