Bronchial artery embolization before interventional bronchoscopy to avoid uncontrollable bleeding: a case report of endobronchial metastasis of renal cell carcinoma

Intern Med. 2011;50(2):135-9. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.3818. Epub 2011 Jan 15.

Abstract

Extreme caution should be taken to avoid uncontrollable bleeding in treating hypervascular tumors via bronchoscope. We report two cases of endobronchial metastasis of renal cell carcinoma treated with bronchial artery embolization (BAE) before endoscopic treatments. The intraluminal lesions were removed swiftly and safely. Although arterial embolization is not always efficacious in cases of tracheal lesions, BAE is effective for tumors located in the carina, bilateral main bronchus or intermediate bronchus. The addition of BAE before endoscopic tumor removal should be considered a treatment option in patients suffering from airway obstructions due to hypervascular tumors such as renal cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bronchial Arteries
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / secondary
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Bronchoscopy* / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / therapy*
  • Embolization, Therapeutic* / methods
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / secondary
  • Kidney Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male