Transfemoral catheter embolization of inoperable kidney cancer

Ten patients with inoperable renal carcinoma underwent embolization of the renal artery. As embolic material homogenized autologous muscle was used. Besides conventional catheters introduced by the Seldinger technique also flow-directed balloon catheters were employed. The merely palliative purposes of embolization were staunching of otherwise untreatable hematuria in eight and reduction of tumor bulk in two cases. Bleeding could be stopped in all, tumor mass reduced in 6 patients as shown by control angiographies. There was always a recanalization of the renal arteries, the vascular tree, however, being much rarefied. Five patients died of the metastatic cancer within the first seven months after embolization, one patient three days after embolization due to phlegmonous retroperitoneal infection. Further complications consisted in flank pain, reversible rises of body temperature, blood pressure and serum creatinine levels. Thrombotic occlusion of deep veins occurred in two patients. The only true benefit of embolization for the patient consists in a relatively simple, fast and safe way to control an otherwise untreatable hemorrhage from inoperable renal carcinoma. Whether prolongation of survival can be reached remains doubtful in spite of a reduction of the tumor mass.