Changes in regional cerebral blood flows produced by dexamethasone in patients with brain metastases.

Four patients suffering from brain metastases were studied by brain scintigraphy carotid angiography and rCBF measurement, before and after one week of treatment with dexamethasone. It was noted that the neurological signs and the blood perfusion around the tumor were improved but that the volume of the lesion, as judged from the angiogram was unmodified. It is suggested that the corticosteroids reduce tissue pressure before actually diminishing the volume of the brain oedema.