Renal artery embolization in the palliative treatment of renal adenocarcinoma

Renal artery embolization without subsequent nephrectomy was used to treat renal adenocarcinoma in 25 patients. The tumour had metastasized in 15 cases, and was locally advanced in six cases and localized in four. The aim was palliation of local symptoms in 20 cases. It was achieved in 11 of 14 patients with gross haematuria and in three of six with severe local pain. No prolongation of survival time was evident, and all the patients died of renal adenocarcinoma within 38 months. Regression of metastases was not seen. In one patient, embolization with absolute ethanol was followed by infarction of the left colon and death.