Content of trace elements in serum of patients with carcinoma of the larynx.

An examination of the content of arsenic, nickel, copper, selenium, zinc, and iron in the serum of 78 patients with carcinoma of the larynx was carried out. The patients were divided into 4 groups: I - patients before treatment, II - patients after surgical treatment, III - patients after radiotherapy, IV - patients after combined treatment (surgery treatment + radiotherapy). The control group was formed of 17 patients operated for deviation of the nasal septum. Higher concentrations of arsenic, nickel and copper were found in the serum of the patients with carcinoma of the larynx before treatment (group I) as compared with the control group, whereas the concentrations of selenium, zinc and iron were lower. In the groups of patients after treatment, the highest concentrations of iron and zinc were found after surgical treatment. The level of selenium in all groups of patients was considerably lower than in the control group.