[Transcatheter arterial embolization therapy of recurrent pelvic cancer]

Embolization of the internal iliac artery with Gelfoam partiles was performed in 14 patients with recurrent pelvic cancer between February 1984 and February 1985. The sites of treatment were the uterus, urinary bladder, sacral mass, vulva and obstrator muscle. Full-dose radiotherapy had been performed as the primary treatment in 10 cases. According to Karnofsky's criteria, the therapeutic effect of embolization was rated as 1-A or better in 71.4% of the patients. Regarding complications of embolization therapy, two cases of vesicovaginal fistula were noted. All these results suggest that embolization is a useful method for the treatment of recurrent pelvic cancer, especially after radiotherapy.