OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the ovarian arteries (OA) additionally supplying the tumor of pelvic cavity.

METHODSTAE of OA was performed in 63 patients with a pelvic tumor additionally supplied by the OA. The mean age of those patients was 43.6 years (range, 16 - 66 years). In this series, there were 28 cervical carcinomas, 22 uterus fibroids, 6 ovarian cancers, 3 choriocarcinomas, 2 uterine sarcomas, 1 fibrosarcoma, and 1 rectal carcinoma infiltrating the uterus and adnexa. Emergency TAE was performed in 8 patients due to colporrhagia. The embolization materials consisted of polyvinyl alcohol particles (PVA) in 24 patients, gelatin sponge particles in 10 cases, PVA + gelatin sponge particles in 26; and PVA + gelatin sponge particles + microcoils in 3 cases.

RESULTSThe OA embolization was successfully performed in all the 63 cases, including bilateral in 19 cases and unilateral in 44 cases (left 27, right 17). No complications related to the procedure were observed. Bleeding from the vagina in 8 patients ceased immediately after supplemental OA embolization, and no re-bleeding occurred in any of them during their hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONPelvic tumors may be supplied additionally by the ovarian arteries. Therefore, routine internal iliac artery/uterine artery chemoembolization or embolization may not effectively cure the tumors. Ovarian artery angiography should be routinely performed before interventional treatment. A supplementary selective ovarian artery chemoembolization or embolization is safe and effective in the management of pelvic tumors with additional blood supply from the ovarian arteries.