What Is Intrathecal Chemotherapy?

Intrathecal chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer that involves injecting chemotherapy drugs directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which bathes the brain and spinal cord. This type of chemotherapy is used to treat cancers that have spread to the central nervous system (CNS), such as leukemia, lymphoma, and medulloblastoma.

Intrathecal chemotherapy is administered through a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap. A small needle is inserted into the lower back between two vertebrae and into the CSF-filled space. The chemotherapy drugs are then injected into the CSF.

The drugs used for intrathecal chemotherapy are typically the same drugs used for intravenous (IV) chemotherapy, but they are given in lower doses. This is because the drugs can reach higher concentrations in the CNS when they are injected directly into the CSF.

Intrathecal chemotherapy can be an effective treatment for CNS cancers, but it can also have side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, headache, and seizures. These side effects are usually temporary and go away after a few days.

Intrathecal chemotherapy is often used in combination with other treatments for CNS cancers, such as IV chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. The goal of treatment is to kill cancer cells and prevent them from spreading to other parts of the body.

What Is a Surgeon? What’s Roseola? What Are the Symptoms? How Do You Treat It?