Prolonged survival following palliative renal tumor embolization by capillary occlusion

Nine patients with renal cell carcinoma and severe hematuria were palliatively treated with a new type of angioocclusion: the concept of capillary embolization. The so-called occlusion gel Ethibloc was used as embolizing agent. Each patient was followed up until death or for at least 4 years. All patients had a stage T3 or T4 tumor, 3 patients had metastases to multiple organs, 3 had lung metastases, and 3 were free of metastatic disease. In all cases, very high volumes (14-40 ml) of the embolizing agent were necessary to achieve total occlusion of the entire arterial compartment. Patients without metastatic disease had a mean survival time of 6 years and 4 months, all of them without signs of malignant disease. Patients with metastases had a mean survival time of 3 years. Compared with the natural history of renal cell carcinoma treated otherwise, this represents a substantial prolongation of survival time. Contrary to other angioocclusive treatment modalities, the concept of capillary occlusion with Ethibloc seems to achieve total tumor destruction.