[Liquid embolization of the renal artery with absolute ethanol]

Absolute ethanol is a new agent for use in embolization which has demonstrated excellent efficacy, is simple to manage, and above all is innocuous in case of reflux into the aorta. A part from provoking irreversible occlusion of the complete renal artery circle, embolization with ethanol provokes direct cellular toxic necrosis comparable with a true mummification. This is of fundamental importance during palliative embolization for renal cancer or in all cases of medical nephrectomy for non-neoplastic disease. Results of the use of liquid embolization of the renal artery with absolute ethanol are presented, the technique, described, and mechanisms of action analyzed based on histologic findings.