[A new method of intraarterial chemotherapy of malignant head and neck tumors - first results (author's transl)].

Six patients with malignant head and neck tumors were treated using a new technique of intraarterial (IA) cytostatic drug infusion. IA therapy was carried out percutaneously, following neck dissection and vascular-surgical preparation of the neck arteries: The external carotid artery was prolonged by an autogenic saphenal vein graft and anastomosed more proximally to the common carotid artery. By this method, IA therapy with Methotrexate, Bleomycin and Cisplatinum could be performed over several weeks. Three of the patients had only incomplete remission because of early thrombosis of the venous graft due to insufficient anticoagulation. However, in three patients IA therapy could be continued until complete remission was achieved. The results indicate the importance of some pharmacological factors that should be respected in IA cytostatic drug infusion.