[Surgical removal of renal cell carcinoma after partial splenic embolization in a patient with liver cirrhosis: a case report].

Partial splenic embolization is used to treat patients with liver cirrhosis accompanied by hypersplenism for improving thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. We report a case in which partial splenic embolization was used before nephrectomy because both renal cell carcinoma and liver cirrhosis were present. A 75-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of abdominal distension. Computed tomography revealed a 5.5 cm left renal tumor. Liver cirrhosis, ascitis, splenomegaly was observed. Blood tests revealed pancytopenia; platelet count was 2.9 x 10(4)/mm3. The patient was treated by partial splenic embolization in an attempt to ensure a safe nephrectomy. After the embolization, her platelet count increased immediately to 19.2 x 10(4)/mm3, and left nephrectomy was performed successfully.