Transcatheter occlusion of abdominal tumors

Radiological and clinical experience with transcatheter intravascular occlusion of abdominal and pelvic tumors in 55 patients is presented. Major indications include control of hemorrhage, palliation of local tumor symptoms, and preoperative management of facilitate surgery. Methods of occlusion included embolization (clot, subcutaneous tissue, and Gelfoam), introduction of a stainless steel coil into larger vessels, and balloon catheters. Hemorrhage was controlled in 8 of 12 patients with bleeding gastrointestinal and pelvic tumors. Experience in 36 patients with hypernephroma is discussed. Initial observations are presented, including occlusion of the hepatic artery for dearterialization of primary and secondary neoplasms and of the splenic artery for hypersplenism.