Background and purpose: Beta radiation can prevent recanalization after embolization. Our goal was to assess the feasibility of endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using coils of a predetermined activity of 32P per centimeter.
Methods: We studied the total length of coils deployed into 357 intracranial aneurysms. Aneurysmal volumes were estimated using 3 mathematical models. We simulated that coils were implanted with 0.26 microCi/cm of 32P, calculated resulting volumetric activities, and compared them with "effective" levels derived from experimental data and "safe" levels prescribed for the clinical use of 32P in cystic craniopharyngiomas.
Results: Effective activities would have been reached in 92% to 98% of lesions had the coils been radioactive at the time of treatment.
Conclusions: Radioactive coil embolization of aneurysms is feasible in most patients.