absorbable gelatin sponge

Definition / meaning of absorbable gelatin sponge

A sterile hemostatic agent composed of purified porcine-derived gelatin. In regional chemotherapy, absorbable gelatin sponge may be used to embolize arteries in the region of a tumor in order to block or retard blood flow; this blockage results in a locally increased concentration of chemotherapeutic agents delivered to the tumor when chemotherapeutic agents are infused into the embolized arterial circulation upstream of the blockage.

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Source(s):

The Web site of the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/)

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