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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 27:297-299, February 2006
© 2006 American Society of Neuroradiology

INTERVENTIONAL

Prevalence and Rupture Rate of Cerebral Aneurysms Discovered during Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy of Brain Tumors

E.C. Bourekas^a, H.B. Newton^b, G.M. Figg^b and H.W. Slone^a

^a Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Division of Neuro-Oncology and Dardinger Neuro-Oncology Center
^b Department of Neurology, Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health and the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio

Address correspondence to Eric C. Bourekas, MD, Department of Radiology, Ohio State University Medical Center, 623 Means Hall, 1654 Upham Drive, Columbus, OH 43210

BACKGROUND: During the administration of intra-arterial (IA) chemotherapy for the treatment of brain tumors (BTs), angiography may demonstrate asymptomatic, incidental cerebral aneurysms. The prevalence and complication rate of incidental aneurysms in patients undergoing IA chemotherapy remains unknown. It remains unclear whether the presence of an aneurysm represents an increased risk or a contraindication to this form of treatment.

METHODS: We performed a chart and angiography review of BT patients receiving IA chemotherapy over the previous 16 months. Seventy-eight patients were identified with primary (39) and metastatic (39) BTs.

RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 40 men and 38 women, with a mean age of 47.8 years (range, 22–80 years). During initial angiography, 8 patients (10.3%) were identified with incidental cerebral aneurysms. The aneurysms were saccular and varied in size from 2–4 mm (mean, 3 mm). Seven of the 8 patients continued IA chemotherapy after detection of the aneurysm, for a total of 35 IA procedures. Of these 7 patients, 5 expired from nonaneurysmal complications (mean survival, 5.4 months; range, 2–10 months); 4 from the primary tumor, and one from an infected craniotomy site. Two patients continue to survive; one remains in treatment, and the other has completed 12 months of IA therapy. There were no aneurysmal complications during or after IA treatment in any of the BT patients.

CONCLUSION: Incidental aneurysms may be more common in patients with BTs than the general population. In our patient population, there was no indication that an incidental aneurysm was reason to preclude or delay the use of IA chemotherapy.