Management of hypersplenism by partial splenic embolization with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.
OBJECTIVE
Partial splenic embolization has been used for more than 20 years to manage thrombocytopenia secondary to hypersplenism. Both temporary and permanent embolic agents have been used without definition of an optimal agent. The purposes of this report are to describe the use of the Onyx nonadhesive liquid embolization system to treat three patients with severe hypersplenism precluding administration of systemic chemotherapy and to report on the hematologic response and clinical outcome after partial splenic embolization with this agent.


CONCLUSIONS
The platelet counts of three patients treated by partial splenic embolization with the Onyx agent improved sufficiently for administration of systemic chemotherapy. In addition, severe postembolization syndrome, a common occurrence after partial splenic embolization, did not occur in our patient population.
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. carin.gonsalves@jefferson.edu
Carin F
CF
Gonsalves
Edith P
EP
Mitchell
Daniel B
DB
Brown
D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006971:Hypersplenism / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011145:Polyvinyls; C020320:ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer