Intraarterial chemotherapy of head and neck tumors

Forty-one patients with advanced recurrent or untreated and neck tumors were treated with intraarterial short-term (1-1 1/2 hr) infusion of cisplatin into the external carotid artery, achieving an immediate tumor response rate of 29.3%. Tumor extent within or beyond the territory of a single external carotid artery was the only significant factor identified affecting the tumor response rate (57.1% vs. 14.8%). Treatment with intraarterial chemotherapy using superselective catheterization before irradiation or surgery is beneficial in some patients.