Role of intraarterial embolization before cryoablation of large renal tumors: a pilot study

A retrospective review of patients who underwent percutaneous cryoablations of renal tumors (> or = 5 cm) with/without previous selective intraarterial embolization from March 2003 to January 2008 was performed to compare periprocedural complications. Of 129 treated tumors, 11 (8.5%) were larger than 5 cm. One patient was lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 10 follow-up patients, four (40%) underwent selective intraarterial tumor embolization before cryoablation. The mean hematoma volume in patients who underwent embolization before cryoablation (n = 4) was 18.3 mL +/- 25.9, whereas that in patients who underwent cryoablation alone (n = 6) was 357.3 mL +/- 460.9 (P< .01). Only one patient required transfusion and prolonged hospitalization. Combination therapy can provide a decrease in postprocedural cryoablation-related hemorrhage.