Prospective Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Presence of Intracranial Tumor

Three cases of patients known to have cerebral meningiomas at the time of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are reported. They represent the seventh to ninth reported cases of patients with intracranial neoplasms treated prospectively with ECT. No patient suffered adverse effects referable to the presence of the tumors, and each obtained a good therapeutic response. The English language literature concerning the use of ECT in patients with intracranial neoplasms is reviewed, and it is concluded that ECT may be safely administered prospectively to patients with intracranial meningiomas after the risk of neurological complications has been evaluated with the appropriate diagnostic studies.