Purpose: The effectiveness of renal transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with a mixture of ethanol and iodized oil (Lipiodol) was analyzed retrospectively in 27 patients with unresectable renal cell carcinoma.
Methods: Symptomatic or permanent palliation by TAE was performed with the intent to achieve total or partial ablation of the kidney with 10-28 ml of embolic material in a 3:1 mixture of ethanol and iodized oil. Clinical, angiographic, and computed tomographic (CT) follow-up were analyzed. Cumulative survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results: Partial (5) or complete (22) ablation of the embolized kidneys was achieved in all cases. Follow-up CT after 1 month revealed Lipiodol uptake in the tumor area (14/14), decreased size of the tumor (6/14), and gas formation (7/14). Pulmonary metastasis improved significantly in one patient after transcatheter arterial embolization and adjunctive chemotherapy. Overall median survival of the 27 patients was 8.5 months. The median survival was 23 months in 10 patients with stage III, three of whom are still alive, and was 7 months in 15 patients with stage IV tumors.
Conclusion: The mixture of ethanol and Lipiodol is not only a convenient embolic material to use, but is also effective for selective or nonselective devascularization for unresectable renal cell carcinoma.