[Catheter embolization of malignant kidney tumors]

It is reported on the occlusion of the renal artery with Spongostan in 25 cases of malignant renal tumours. The embolisation takes place immediately after the angiographic diagnosis of the renal tumour, in which case on account of the simplicity of the method every radiologist working in the field of angiography is able to perform the occlusion of the renal artery. It is not difficult to get embolisation material and it is available in nearly every surgical department. In 15 cases the later on performed extracapsular nephrectomy was, compared with the non-embolised kidneys, was facilitated by an edematous marginal zone and diminution and lacking filling of the tumour veins and on account of the smaller loss of blood led to a reduced operation stress of the patient. Apart from this on account of the missing blood supply of the kidney the ligature of the renal vein could be performed at an earlier moment of the operation and thus an intraoperatively haematogenic metastasation could be prevented. In 10 inoperable cases the embolisation was performed for the exclusion of haematuria and in order to stop and to decrease the further growth of the tumour. On account of the simplicity if the method, connected with the advantages resulting from this, the authors would like no more to miss this approach in future.