[Contribution of curative and preventive embolization for renal angiomyolipomas treatment].

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to present the role of embolization in the treatment of kidney angiomyolipomas (AML), for preventive care or in case of bleeding.

METHODS

From March 1995 to March 2007, 22 AML in 21 patients (16 women and five men, mean age 38 years) were embolized: five AML were treated for hemorrhagic shock emergency and 16 were preventive embolization. Eight AML were discovered incidentally and nine patients had pain or hematuria. The average size of AML was 70 mm (20 to 130 mm). The embolization was performed with coils or embospheres.

RESULTS

Three patients have not been embolized because of renal failure catheterization. The embolization was effective in 100% of patients treated in emergency. The six patients cared for gross hematuria and pain were asymptomatic after embolization. The average tumor size reduction was 32% with a mean time of 53.2 months (five to 101 months). Three patients (14%) have benefited from surgery remotely.

CONCLUSION

Embolization is the best technique for treating bleeding secondary to AML. In preventive treatment or symptomatic, AML embolization is a treatment to offer before considering surgery.