ABSTRACT
Objective To study the value of interventional therapy for chest diseases via internal mammary artery (IMA) and the features of internal mammary artery angiography. Methods 31 cases of different chest diseases were undertaken the angiography and interventional therapy through IMA. Results The lesions of 31 cases were supplied by internal mammary artery partly or totally. The good therapeutic effectiveness was achieved in 20 cases with pulmonary carcinoma. The masses and the enlarged lymph nodes were shrinked obviously in 4 cases of advanced breast carcinoma and one of them was cured with operation after internal mammary arterial infusion. One case of low invasive thymoma was cured by internal mammary arterial infusion combined with resection. The bleeding was stopped absolutely after IMA embolization in 6 cases of hemoptysis (bronchiectasis in 2 cases, pulmonary tuberculosis in 4 cases). Conclusions The interventional therapy via IMA is very important and necessary when the mass in the chest is supplied by IMA.