Superselective angio-CT of brain tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of superselective angio-CT in the diagnosis of astrocytoma.


METHODS
Nineteen patients with astrocytoma had superselective angio-CT before chemotherapeutic agents were administered via superselective intraarterial infusion. CT was performed after contrast material was delivered through a microcatheter, which had been advanced into the feeding arteries of the tumor. Superselective angio-CT scans were compared with digital subtraction angiograms, conventional contrast-enhanced CT scans, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images.


RESULTS
Superselective angio-CT scans depicted contrast enhancement of the tumor in all of the patients and the medullary veins of the tumors in 32% of the patients. Digital subtraction angiograms showed tumor stains in 68% of the patients and the medullary veins in only 5%. Conventional CT scans and MR images showed contrast enhancement of the tumor in 89% of the patients. Superselective angio-CT scans confirmed the proper position of the catheter tip for the infusion of a chemotherapeutic agent.


CONCLUSIONS
Superselective angio-CT can be used to depict contrast enhancement of tumors and the vascular structures that are characteristic of astrocytomas.
Tomura
N
N
Department of Radiology, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
Hashimoto
M
M
Sashi
R
R
Hirano
H
H
Kobayashi
M
M
Hirano
Y
Y
Satoh
K
K
Watarai
J
J
Kowada
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000098:blood supply; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015376:Nimustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015376:Nimustine