Most times, chemotherapy is administered through the veins by means of a port or other venous catheter. However, sometimes chemotherapy must be administered directly into the subarachnoid space (the space surrounding the brain and spinal cord). If a patient needs this type of chemotherapy (called intrathecal chemotherapy), it can be administered by means of a lumbar puncture. Once the lumbar puncture is successfully performed, the chemotherapy drug is injected directly into the spinal canal.
