OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of arterial embolization in adrenal tumor MATERIAL AND METHOD: Clinical records of patients with adrenal tumor who underwent adrenal arterial embolization with pre- and post-embolization computed tomography (CT) imaging at Siriraj Hospital, between 2007 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Five sessions of embolization were performed in three patients. The superior adrenal artery was occluded in two patients, the middle adrenal artery in two sessions in one patient, and inferior adrenal artery in two patients. Adrenal arterial embolization successfully reduced tumor vascularity in all patients. The pain relief in all patients was the effect of embolization and complete cessation of retroperitoneal bleeding from ruptured myelolipoma in one patient. There are no late complications such as pleural effusion, adrenal insufficiency, or abscess. CONCLUSION: Adrenal arterial embolization is a good choice for adjunctive or palliative treatment of unresectable adrenal tumor in particular conditions such as palliative pain control, ruptured adrenal tumor with retroperitoneal hemorrhage, or reduction of tumor vascularity. Even if embolization is not able to reduce tumor size, it is an effective initial treatment before further management, without serious complication.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of arterial embolization in adrenal tumor MATERIAL AND METHOD: Clinical records of patients with adrenal tumor who underwent adrenal arterial embolization with pre- and post-embolization computed tomography (CT) imaging at Siriraj Hospital, between 2007 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Five sessions of embolization were performed in three patients. The superior adrenal artery was occluded in two patients, the middle adrenal artery in two sessions in one patient, and inferior adrenal artery in two patients. Adrenal arterial embolization successfully reduced tumor vascularity in all patients. The pain relief in all patients was the effect of embolization and complete cessation of retroperitoneal bleeding from ruptured myelolipoma in one patient. There are no late complications such as pleural effusion, adrenal insufficiency, or abscess. CONCLUSION: Adrenal arterial embolization is a good choice for adjunctive or palliative treatment of unresectable adrenal tumor in particular conditions such as palliative pain control, ruptured adrenal tumor with retroperitoneal hemorrhage, or reduction of tumor vascularity. Even if embolization is not able to reduce tumor size, it is an effective initial treatment before further management, without serious complication.