Percutaneous transfemoral renal artery occlusion in patients with renal carcinoma preliminary report

Twenty-four patients have undergone percutaneous transfemoral selective renal artery occlusion as part of their management for renal carcinoma. Preoperative infarction was performed in 7 cases. This facilitated surgery by eliminating the major blood supply to the tumor and resulted in collapse of the large collateral veins and created edema within the perirenal tissue. In 17 patients with visceral metastases, tumor infarction was performed in lieu of nephrectomy for control of the primary lesion and in hopes of stimulating an autoimmune response. The current status of this procedure is discussed in light of its indications, complications, and preliminary results.