Arterial embolization is a palliative procedure in the management of advanced renal carcinoma. In solitary kidneys tumors may also be embolized under certain circumstances, i.e. patients with resectable tumors but inoperable because of poor general condition or patients with nonresectable tumors presenting with hemorrhage or paraneoplastic activity. Experience with 2 cases of selective embolization of inoperable renal cancer in solitary kidneys is presented and the indications for embolization, considering deterioration of renal function, are outlined.