Sometimes bleeding from a tumor needs to be prevented before surgery, through a process called meningioma embolization. This may include pre-operative treatment of neck masses (paragangliomas and juvenile angiofibromas) or brain tumors (meningiomas) to decrease the time and risk of surgery.
Other patients with radiation and recurrence of head and neck cancers of the tongue or pharynx/larynx may require treatment to stop bleeding while more definitive treatment is implemented. These patients are usually treated one day to two days prior to surgery.