Purpose: To evaluate the rate of complications associated with diagnostic cerebral angiography accompanied by intraarterial chemotherapy for the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors.
Materials and methods: Three hundred ninety-two consecutive transfemoral cerebral angiographic procedures accompanied by intraarterial chemotherapy were performed in 48 patients (28 men, 20 women), and complications were evaluated.
Results: The most common local complications were groin hematomas, which occurred in 10 (2.6%) of the 392 procedures and none of which required therapy. Two carotid arterial dissections (0.5%) were reported in two patients who were asymptomatic and did not require further treatment. Both improved at follow-up examinations. Only one patient required surgery for a delayed popliteal 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.