Embolization

The deliberate obstruction of a blood vessel in order to stop internal bleeding or to cut off the blood supply to a tumour. In the latter case, the technique can relieve pain; cause the tumour to shrivel, making surgical removal easier; or stop the tumour from spreading. Embolization can also be used to block flow through vascular abnormalities such as haemangiomas both in the skin and the internal organs. A catheter is introduced into a blood vessel near the one to be blocked and the embolus that will block the vessel is released through the catheter. Emboli are made of materials such as bloodclotting agents or silicone.