Ferromagnetic silicone necrosis of hypernephromas by selective vascular occlusion to the tumor: a new technique.

Arterial vascular occlusion of hypernephromas may be performed by obstructiing the tumor vascular tree with the injection of ferromagnetic silicone microspheres. The powerful superconducting electromagnet confines the embolized iron-silicone compound to the neoplastic target organ. Radioactive material may or may not be added to the iron-silicone compound to give local direct radioactive radiation therapy to the tumor area. In experimental dogs up to 70,000 rad of beta radiation from the P32 source had been delivered homogeneously within the kidney when mixed with the ferrosilicone. This technique may well be used in cases in which a major operation is contraindicated or when preoperative necrosis of the tumor is advisable. Since the entire procedure can be done with the patient under local anesthesia in a radiology department it may be a valuable new technique in the future management of urological tumors, unilateral renal hypertension, solitary kidney pathology and so forth. Ferrosilicone material has not been found to be toxic. The application of a powerful superconducting electromagnet to the technique provides a means of confining the embolized iron-silicone compound to the target organ.