[The advantages of palliative embolization and with preoperative ethanol in hypernephroma]

We report thirty-one embolizations of renal cell carcinomas, using ethanol injected through a balloon-tipped catheter. This technique is performed both as a palliative and as a preoperative treatment. Renal function (urea and creatinine) before and a week after embolization showed no important variations. The CT scan six days after embolization disclosed intratumoral gas formation due to necrosis, without infection. Less time and fewer transfusions were required with this procedure and the morbidity and mortality rates were lower. There were no major complications and the duration of the postembolization syndrome was reduced to 48 hours. A histopathological examination of the tumor and the vascular changes was done, showing the effects of ethanol on the arterial and venous walls.