Orbital angiographic changes after intracarotid BCNU chemotherapy.

Abstract

Seven patients treated with intraarterial internal carotid 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) chemotherapy for malignant gliomas of the brain had postinjection angiographic demonstration of increased orbital vascularity and vasodilatation, sometimes associated with arteriovenous shunting. Subjective orbital discomfort reported by the patients during chemotherapy correlated with this orbital hyperemia. Some therapeutic suggestions for managing this undesirable effect of BCNU chemotherapy are discussed.