Isolated limb infusion for local control of lower limb melanoma: radiologic aspects.

To describe the technical radiological aspects of isolated limb infusion (ILI) to assist those procedural radiologists who carry out ILI on an occasional only basis and to inform the Australian radiologist community about this deserving but relatively little known radiological procedure. Retrospective audit of radiological catheter placement for 23 lower limb ILI procedures carried out for 16 patients with locally recurrent melanoma over 2 years (January 2002 to December 2003). Arterial and venous catheter placement, although sometimes difficult, was successful in all but four occasions. Unfavourable vascular anatomy was the main reason for failure. If approached systematically and with the knowledge of the patient's vascular anatomy, the outcome will be satisfactory in the hands of the generalist. Knowing the common technical pitfalls will certainly assist. Isolated limb infusion deserves to be more widely known in the radiological and surgical communities.