Convection Enhanced Delivery of Topotecan for Gliomas: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

A key limitation to glioma treatment involves the blood brain barrier (BBB). Convection enhanced delivery (CED) is a technique that uses a catheter placed directly into the brain parenchyma to infuse treatments using a pressure gradient. In this manuscript, we describe the physical principles behind CED along with the common pitfalls and methods for optimizing convection. Finally, we highlight our institutional experience using topotecan CED for the treatment of malignant glioma.

Keywords

• convection enhanced delivery
• glioma
• glioblastoma
• topotecan