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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of an actively bleeding renal angiomyolipoma
Pedro Ivo Ravizzini1,2, Henrique Augusto Lino1,3, Gregory Ravizzini4
1Radiology Department, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
We report a case of computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of a bleeding renal angiomyolipoma. Radiofrequency ablation was performed as an alternative to partial nephrectomy and super-selective renal artery embolization for ruptured renal angiomyolipoma with slow persistent bleeding in a patient with elevated serum creatinine levels and other comorbidities. Computed tomography-guided radiofrequency ablation successfully stopped the active hemorrhage and did not affect long-term renal function during the 3-year follow period. No complications were associated with the procedure. Radiofrequency ablation of a bleeding renal angiomyolipoma may be considered a more invasive surrogate procedure in an urgent setting; however, further studies are necessary to evaluate the long-term benefits of this approach and its overall impact on renal function compared to traditional methods.

