Arterial embolization during percutaneous vertebroplasty resulting in bilateral renal infarcts and ischemic colitis

This case report documents an arterial embolic event that occurred during vertebroplasty for a pathological compression fracture of T12 in a 54-year-old female with known metastatic breast carcinoma. A CT angiogram performed after the procedure demonstrated cement migration into the aorta, both kidneys, and the inferior mesenteric artery and its branches, with ischemic colitis involving the descending colon and sigmoid colon. A CT scan 4 months post-procedure demonstrated resolution of the colitis. Neovascularity and cortical destruction in malignant bone lesions are thought to contribute to arterial cement leak.