PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of complications associated with diagnostic c
erebral angiography accompanied by intraarterial chemotherapy for the treat
ment of primary and metastatic brain tumors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:Three hundred ninety-two consecutive transfemoral cer
ebral angiographic procedures accompanied by intraarterial chemotherapy wer
e performed in 48 patients (28 men, 20 women), and complications were evalu
ated.
RESULTS: The most common local complications were groin hematomas, which oc
curred in 10 (2.6%) of the 392 procedures and none of which required therap
y. Two carotid arterial dissections (0.5%) were reported in two patients wh
o were asymptomatic and did not require further treatment. Both improved at
follow-up examinations. Only one patient required surgery for a delayed po
pliteal embolus. Systemic transient complications occurred five times (1.3%
). There were seven (1.8%) transient neurologic events, which were paresis
and visual disturbances. Six (1.5%) transient seizure events were recorded.
There were no permanent neurologic complications.
CONCLUSION: Intraarterial chemotherapy for brain tumors is a safe procedure
with a low complication rate.