Selective intra-arterial cytotostatic injections in malignant head and neck tumors

Regional intra-arterial drug administration has been advocated in order to reduce the risks of systemic complications in conjunction with systemic tumor chemotherapy. We have been using superselective angiographic techniques to administer the antitumor drug mitomycin C directly into the feeding arteries of the tumor in 15 patients with advanced malignant head and neck tumors. No complications were observed. In five patients the tumor decreased significantly in size, in four patients, tumor cell necrosis was found. A marked decrease in pain was reported by nine of the 15 patients.