Use of angioembolization as an effective technique for the management of pediatric solid tumors

In oncology practice, angioembolization has been reported for tumor reduction before surgery, treatment of life-threatening conditions, and for palliative care. Nevertheless, the overall experience with angioembolization for the treatment of tumors is limited. We report our experience in 7 nonvascular solid pediatric tumors.

A retrospective review was carried out of medical records from pediatric patients (0-18 years) with solid nonvascular tumors who underwent angioembolization in the last 5 years at our institution.

Seven patients underwent embolization: 2 neuroblastomas, 1 metastatic paraganglioma, 1 hepatoblastoma, 1 myofibroblastic tumor, 1 osteosarcoma, and 1 undifferentiated sarcoma. The reason for angioembolization was preparation for surgery (3), treatment of a life-threatening event (1), or palliative care (3). Each case is presented and discussed. The outcome was subsequent complete surgical resection in 3 cases, tumor vanished in 1 case, symptom control was achieved in 1, and the other 2 patients improved their survival and quality of life, however, died of disease progression.

Tumor angioembolization may enter the treatment algorithm for selected patients who have to face difficult or unwarranted surgical procedures or have diseases where conventional therapies have failed.