Endovascular Embolization of Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Patient with Solitary Kidney

Kidney tumors account for about 3% of tumors in adults. The primary therapy of renal cancer is the surgical removal. Traditionally, and also modern procedures are performed to remove the kidneys, especially when the tumor involves the entire kidney. In the cases of unresectable tumors embolization is used as a palliative procedure.

The aim of this study is to present the case of endovascular treatment of renal cell carcinoma in patient with solitary kidney. 77-years old patient had an ultrasound examination because of the pain in left lumbar region. MRI confirmed the presence of tumor size 29×45 mm in the left kidney. The right kidney had been removed eight years earlier because of clear cell carcinoma. Histopathological diagnosis was renal clear cell carinoma. The patient did not consent to surgical treatment. Tumor embolization was proceeded as a minimally invasive procedure. Pathological tumor vessels were closed using particles filling the entire vascular tumor. Next, the blood vessels supplying the tumor were closed using a mixture of lipiodolu and glubranu. Control angiographiy of the left renal artery confirmed the effective closure of all vascular pathology. In a recent ultrasound examination which was done 15 months after surgery no evidence of vascular pathology was found.

Embolization of kidney cancer in particular cases may be an alternative way of treatment and give a good result in the form of stopping the growth of the tumor with simultaneous retaining the remaining parenchyma and renal function.