Renal malignancies: outcome of patients in stage 4 with or without embolization procedure

During four and one-half years a total of 44 patients with renal cell carcinoma in Stage 4 were admitted to our hospital. Of these, 18 patients were treated with an embolization procedure, 8 patients had nephrectomy without embolization, and another 18 patients received no active treatment. Except for the treatment there were no differences between these groups. The survival time was equal whether or not the patients underwent an angioinfarction procedure. We conclude that the embolization procedure has no beneficial effect in itself in these patients.