Arteriography in childhood tumours

Percutaneous arteriography was used as the investigation of choice in 121 children with clinically suspected malignancy on 132 occasions. Major complications occurred in 2% of the investigations and misdiagnosis in 10%. The arteriographic information was complementary to that of other, routine, investigations in 18% (25 investigations) but in 70% it was crucial, either ruling out a malignancy or defining its nature, site and size while also serving as a guide for biopsy, surgical manipulation, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Arteriography can shorten the work-up in childhood tumours, especially those of the abdomen, eliminating the need for less informative radiological investigations. However, the complications encountered confirmed the peculiar difficulties and risks of paediatric arteriography and the need for strict case selection and a high degree of skill.