Embolization is a powerful technique that is now making a significant contribution to the treatment of a very large number of patients. Since it was first used in the 1960s, physicians have been attracted by its power to occlude a vessel without the need to use much more invasive, and usually less effective, open surgical techniques to achieve the same purpose. Recent advances in materials technology, and great improvements in methods of imaging guidance, have greatly increased the effec­tiveness of this attractive technique, enabling the occlusion of vessels in a large variety of organs.

The first section of the book covers the relevant technology, discussing the characteristics of catheters and embolization materials, as well as the underly­ing principles of the technique. The second and larger section deals with all the important applications of embolization in a variety of organ systems and clinical situations.

The reader of this book will gain a clear understanding of how to use emboliza­tion effectively and safely. Interventional radiologists in training will find it an invaluable guide to all aspects of the technique; and experienced operators will use it to update their knowledge and to obtain advice on the use of embolization in vascular territories that are not part of their routine practice.

Interventional radiology treatments now play a major role in many disease pro­cesses and continue to mushroom with novel procedures appearing almost, on a yearly basis. Indeed, it is becoming more and more difficult to be an expert in all facets of interventional radiology. The interventional trainee and practising inter­ventional radiologist will have to attend meetings and read extensively to keep up to date. There are many IR textbooks which are disease specific, but incorporate interventional radiology techniques. These books are important to understand the natural history, epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of disease processes. However, a detailed handbook that is technique based is a useful addition to have in the Cath Lab, office or at home where information can be accessed quickly, before or even during a case. With this in mind we have embarked on a series of books which will provide technique specific information on IR procedures. Initialy, tech­nique handbooks on Angioplasty and Stenting, Transcatheter Embolization, Biopsy and Drainage and Ablative techniques will comprise the series. In the future we hope to add books on Pediatric and Neuro intervention.

We have chosen two editors, who are expert in their fields, for each book. One editor is European and one is American so that the knowledge of IR techniques detailed is balanced and representative. We have tried to make the information easy to access using a consistent bullet point format with sections on clinical fea­tures, anatomy, tools, patient preparation, technique, aftercare, complications and key points at the end of each chapter.

Charles Dotter originally described the use of embolization therapy to deliber­ately occlude blood vessels in 1966. The ingenuity and expertise of interventional radiologists have seen embolotherapy as the embodiment of Dotter’s remark “that an angiographic catheter ... if used with imagination ... can become an important surgical instrument.”

David Tuite and Kevin O’Regan

Audrey Fohlen and Jean-Pierre Pelage

Mark Brinckman

Kimi Kondo