Intrathecal chemotherapy, also called intrathecal injection chemotherapy, is used primarily for the prevention and treatment of central nervous system leukemia (CNSL).
The human brain tissue and spinal cord are surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid, and the cerebrospinal fluid around both is connected. Intraspinal injection of chemotherapeutic drugs targeting leukemia cells allows the drugs to reach the cerebrospinal fluid directly, and through the cerebrospinal fluid circulation, they can enter the skull and reach effective drug concentrations to kill tumor cells in the central nervous system for prevention and treatment purposes.
Intrathecal chemotherapy is usually administered by puncture of the 4th and 5th lumbar interspace sites.