Arterial embolisation in the treatment of malignant tumours

Arterial embolisation is performed in order to interfere with the blood supply and growth of tumours and also to palliate the pain produced by them. In the present study 5 patients with liver metastases, 6 patients with renal tumours and 1 patient with bleeding from the rectum were treated by arterial embolisation with gelatin (Gelfoam). Before embolisation angiography was performed in all and computerized tomography in some of the patients. The control examinations and repetitive procedures were performed 2-4 weeks afterwards and there after according to the response. The effectiveness of the embolisation was assessed by angiography as good in 70% of the cases. Out of 5 patients examined with CT in 4 the tumour was found to have become smaller. The procedure eliminated pain caused by the enlarged liver in all 5 patients, stopped the rectal bleeding, and the subjective condition of all patients improved. Pain produced by the postembolisation syndrome occurred in all cases, but repeated embolisations did not result in further pain. Serious complications did not occur.