EXTRAVASATION OF CONTRAST-MEDIUM FROM THE LENTICULOSTRIATE ARTERY FOLLOWING LOCAL INTRACAROTID FIBRINOLYSIS

Two patients with acute embolic occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery and the lenticulostriate arteries were treated by loca l intraarterial fibrinolysis using tissue plasminogen activator. Altho ugh fibrinolysis started within 2.5 hours from the ictus, extravasatio n of the contrast medium from the lenticulostriate arteries occurred i n the region of the basal ganglia. Local intraarterial fibrinolysis fo r acute embolic occlusion of the internal carotid artery may be a high -risk therapeutic intervention even within the ultra-acute stage, espe cially when the lenticulostriate arteries are occluded by an embolus.