title: Superselective cerebral arterial infusion of BCNU in high-grade glioma: the radiologist's point of view.
abstract: Thirty-two patients suffering from high-grade glioma were candidates for superselective cerebral arterial infusion of 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) after surgery and radiation therapy. There were 74 catheterizations using an 8-French guiding catheter through which a 2.5-French balloon catheter was placed into the main arterial trunk feeding the tumor. Eleven procedures were abandoned because of arterial spasm with a transient neurological deficit or because of prolonged catheterization time. Sixty-three infusions of BCNU were done, each lasting three hours. Eighty-one percent of patients showed stabilization or improvement on computed tomographic (CT) scans five weeks after treatment. We thus demonstrate the safety of supraophthalmic catheterization, the feasibility of prolonged catheterization, and the relative effectiveness of low doses of BCNU infused over a long period of time in the treatment of cerebral gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute, Quebec.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Théron
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melanson
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Villemure
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Emrich
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ethier
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002536:Cerebral Arteries; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D002330:Carmustine