Editing Embolization (section)

{{short description|Passage and lodging of an embolus within the bloodstream}}
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{{Use American English|date=March 2020}}
{{More medical citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox medical intervention
| name         = Embolization
| image        = Embolization kidney.jpg
| caption      = [[Micrograph]] of embolic material in the artery of a kidney. The kidney was surgically removed because of [[kidney cancer|cancer]]. [[H&E stain]].
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'''Embolization''' refers to the passage and lodging of an [[embolus]] within the bloodstream. It may be of natural origin ([[pathological]]), in which sense it is also called [[embolism]], for example a [[pulmonary embolism]]; or it may be artificially induced ([[therapy|therapeutic]]), as a [[hemostasis|hemostatic]] treatment for bleeding or as a treatment for some types of cancer by deliberately blocking blood vessels to starve the [[neoplasm|tumor]] cells.

In the [[management of cancer|cancer management]] application, the embolus, besides blocking the blood supply to the tumor, also often includes an ingredient to attack the tumor chemically or with [[irradiation]]. When it bears a [[chemotherapy]] drug, the process is called chemoembolization. [[Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization]] (TACE) is the usual form. When the embolus bears a [[medicinal radiocompounds|radiopharmaceutical]] for [[unsealed source radiotherapy]], the process is called radioembolization or [[selective internal radiation therapy]] (SIRT).