Particulate intraarterial embolization in pelvic arteriovenous malformations.

Pelvic arteriovenous malformation is a rare disease with a protracted course which is a major therapeutic problem as it is usually not cured by any means. Symptoms are incapacitating and at times life-threatening. Intraarterial embolization can provide symptomatic relief but recurrence of the lesion occurs in most cases. Intraarterial embolization can be repeated several times but becomes increasingly difficult as new collaterals develop while the major feeders remain occluded. Surgical excision is contraindicated except in well localized lesions. In these cases, preoperative embolization may decrease operative morbidity and facilitate a thorough extirpation.