Selective arterial embolization in renal tumors

Selective arterial embolization with Gelfoam was performed in 45 cases of hypernephroma. In 33 cases this technique has been utilized as preoperative procedure and almost always (97%) nephrectomy was facilitated: 97% of the cases had slight or moderate operative bleeding; in 82% of the cases separation of the tumor-containing kidney from adjacent tissues was easy. Embolization has been employed in 12 inoperable patients and was effective mainly in management of bleeding. Angiographic controls after embolization (from 13 to 162 days) were performed 8 times and it was assessed that the efficacy of the procedure on primary tumor growth is limited in time by renal artery revascularization. The embolized patients never presented severe complications, except several episodes of transitory renal failure.