Treatment by percutaneous arterial occlusion

Four patients treated by arterial embolisation are presented to illustrate the uses of this technique. The lesions were an arterio-venous malformation, an arterio-venous fistula, a metastasis to bone from a carcinoma of the thyroid and a bleeding pulmonary tuberculous cavity. The materials used were gel foam, gianturco coils and cyano-acrylate glue. No complications occurred. The patient with haemoptysis went on to have an upper lobectomy. The methods, uses and possible complications are discussed. It is concluded that embolisation should be considered as the first treatment option in suitable lesions since it is cheaper, avoids scars, preserves tissue and is preferred by patients