Ethanol and polyvinyl alcohol mixture for transcatheter embolization of renal angiomyolipoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the immediate and midterm effects of embolization of the angiogenic component of renal angiomyolipoma in which a mixture of ethanol and polyvinyl alcohol is used as a permanent obliterator.


METHODS
Seventeen patients with 18 renal angiomyolipomas (size range, 5.5-20 cm; mean size, 10 cm) were treated with transcatheter embolization over an 8-year period. Embolization was performed with a mixture of 96% ethanol and polyvinyl alcohol particles. Follow-up with CT (mean follow-up period, 22.4 months) and one (mean, 14 months) or two (mean, 27 months) angiographic examinations were conducted to evaluate changes in the size of the tumor and to look for recurrence of the angiogenic component.


RESULTS
All initial angiograms showed the characteristic tortuous, hypervascular, and aneurysm-forming angiogenic component. Immediate complete obliteration was achieved in 17 tumors (94.4% technical success rate). There was one partial technical failure. Mean tumor size was reduced to 7.6 cm (mean size reduction, 24%). Fourteen patients with 15 tumors underwent one angiographic follow-up examination (mean time after treatment, 14 months), and four patients underwent two angiographic follow-up examinations (mean time after treatment, 27 months). Reduction of the angiogenic component occurred in 10 (66.6%) of the tumors and complete obliteration in five (33.3%) of the tumors. No retroperitoneal hemorrhage or tumor growth was seen during the follow-up period. No complications were encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a mixture of ethanol and polyvinyl alcohol an efficient embolizing agent with a sustained midterm effect in the management of renal angiomyolipoma. Repeated embolization was needed in tumors with a large angiogenic component. Tumor shrinkage after embolization was minimal.
Rimon
Uri
U
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel 52621. rimonu@sheba.health.gov.il
Duvdevani
Mordechai
M
Garniek
Alexander
A
Golan
Gil
G
Bensaid
Paul
P
Ramon
Jacob
J
Morag
Benyamina
B
D000328:Adult; D018207:Angiomyolipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000431:Ethanol; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol