Abstract
Accumulation of edematous fluid due to cerebral tumors leads to increase of intracranial pressure (ICP) with subsequent reduction of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The value of prolonged administration of steroids to patients suffering from tumors of the brain is well known since the early reports of Ingraham et al. [4] and Tytus et al. [10]. Studies on the influence of various doses of steroids on ICP in patients with supratentorial tumors [5] and tumors of the posterior fossa [2] have indicated that ICP can be adequately lowered by dexamethasone. Own experience has indicated that cerebrospinal fluid pressure in patients suffering from supratentorial malignant brain tumors decreases more slowly than the clinical condition improves [1]. Therefore factors other than ICP alone must be influenced by the administration of dexamethasone. Since rCBF is not triggered by intracranial pressure alone we have studied this particular factor. This preliminary report presents observations on the effect of high doses of dexamethasone on rCBF in patients suffering from malignant brain tumors and proven edema.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alberti E, Hartmann A, Schütz H-J, Schreckenberger F (1978) The effect of large doses of dexamethasone on the cerebrospinal fluid pressure in patients with supratentorial tumors. J Neurol 217: 173–181
Brock M, Zillig C, Wiegand H, Zywietz C, Mock P (1976) The effects of dexamethasone on ICP in cases of posterior fossa tumors. In: ICP III, Beks JWF, Bosch DA, Brock M (eds). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 236–243
Hartmann A, v Kummer R (in press) Die atraumatische Messung der regionalen Gehirndurchblutung: Methodik und Zuverlässigkeitsprüfung. Fortschr. Neurol.
Ingraham FD, Matson DD, Mc Laurin RL (1952) Cortisone and ACTH as an adjunct to the surgery of craniopharyngiomas. New Eng J Med 246: 568–571
Kullberg G (1972) Clinical studies on the effect of corticosteroids on the ventricular pressure. In: Steroids and brain edema. Reulen H, Schiirmann K (eds). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 253–258
Maxwell RE, Long MD, French LA (1972) The clinical effects of a synthetic glucocorticoid used for brain edema. In: Steroids and brain edema. Reulen H, Schiirmann K (eds). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 219–232
Obrist WD, Thompson HK, Wang HS, Wilkinson WE (1975) Regional cerebral blood flow estimated by Xenon 133 inhalation. Stroke 6: 245–256
Reulen HJ, Hadjidimos A, Schiirmann K (1972) The effect of dexamethasone on water and electrolyte content and on rCBF in perifocal brain edema in man. In: Steroids and brain edema, Reulen HJ, Schiirmann K (eds). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 239–252
Risberg J, Ali Z, Wilson EM, Wills EL, Halsey HJ (1975) Regional cerebral blood flow. Preliminary evaluation of an initial slope index in patients with unstable flow compartments. Stroke 6: 142–148
Tytus JS, Seltzer HS, Kahn EA (1955) Cortisone as an aid in the surgical treatment of craniopharyngiomas. J Neurosurg 12: 555–564
Weinstein JD, Toy FJ, Jaffe ME, Goldberg HI (1973) The effect of dexamethasone on brain edema in patients with metastatic brain tumors. Neurology 23: 121–129
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1982 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Buttinger, C., Hartmann, A., von Kummer, R., Menzel, J. (1982). The Effect of High Doses of Dexamethasone on Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Cerebral Tumors. In: Hartmann, A., Brock, M. (eds) Treatment of Cerebral Edema. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68707-5_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68707-5_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-11751-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-68707-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive