Role of Angioembolization in the Treatment of Medium Sized Renal Masses

Abstract Background: Renal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant renal tumors, while Angiomyolipoma (AML) is the most common benign one. It is widely known that surgical procedures such as Partial Nephrectomy (PN) and Radical Nephrectomy (RN), remains the gold standard treatment for them. However the minimally invasive image-guided therapies, such as renal artery embolization are safe and effective therapies pre-operatively and for patients who do not want to undergo traditional surgery. Aim of Study: To evaluate the role of Renal Artery Em-bolization (RAE) in treatment of medium size renal tumors either benign Angiomyolipoma (AML) or malignant Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) masses. Methods: Twenty patients were included retrospectively in this study, 11 patients were with RCC and 9 were AML, with a size of 4-7cm as inclusion criteria. Complications and impact of patient's management of RAE (renal artery embol-ization) were analyzed. Results: Angioembolization of renal tumors was successful in nearly all cases for AML and in RCC. It achieved adequate results in AML which liable for rupture or in active bleeding. While for RCC it played significant role in pre-operative de-vascularization to facilitate its resection intra operative and aiding as palliative treatment for the RCC. Conclusion: The RAE is an effective, minimally invasive and well tolerated line of treatment of both AML and RCC either therapeutic pre-operative de-vascularization or palliative treatment with low incidence of minor complications.