See the Unseen – Neoangiogenesis in Cancer

[摘要] Superior hypogastric plexus block is the intervention of choicefor the management of pain arising from pelvic organs. Thisminimally invasive pain and spine intervention (MIPSI) targetsthe superior hypogastric plexus, which lies retroperitoneallyalong with common and internal iliac vessels surrounding it.On lateral fluoroscopic view, the needle is seen lying just infront of the L5 vertebral body and contrast spreads just anteriorto the vertebral body junction. Accidental embolization due tointra‑arterial injection of particulate corticosteroid can lead todevastating complications like paraplegia/quadriplegia due tospinal cord infarction.[1] When nerve blocks are given for themanagement of cancer pain, a high degree of caution is warrantedto prevent this complication as the process of neoangiogenesis isheightened,[2] and chances of encountering new blood vessels inthe form of collaterals increase significantly in cancer.

[学科分类] 分子生物学，细胞生物学和基因