Transcatheter Renal Artery Embolization for Management of Renal and Adrenal Tumors

Transcatheter arterial embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that is increasingly used for the management of angiomyolipomas and to augment and/or palliate the management of malignant renal and adrenal neoplasms. The most common indications for renal artery embolization include (1) prenephrectomy and preradiofrequency ablation infarction of renal tumors, (2) management of renal angiomyolipomas, (3) palliations of unresectable renal malignancy, and (4) malignant renal hemorrhage (life-threatening or chronic debilitating hematuria). The increasing use of renal artery embolization for these conditions reflects the procedure's effectiveness and safety. Although there is less extensive literature available regarding the use of transcatheter embolization of adrenal tumors, this technique appears to be effective and safe for palliation and preadrenalectomy of adrenal metastatic disease, adrenocortical carcinomas, as well as treatment of symptomatic aldosteronomas. This article reviews the indications and techniques involved in performing transcatheter arterial embolization for renal and adrenal tumors.