SELECTIVE INTRAARTERIAL CHEMOTHERAPY OF TUMORS IN THE LINGUAL ARTERY TERRITORY BY A NEW APPROACH

Selective intraarterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy of carcinoma in the r egion of the lingual artery was performed in 23 patients (bilaterally in 4 patients). The superficial temporal artery (STA) was surgically e xposed and a preshaped infusion catheter was inserted. The catheter ti p was maneuvered through the STA into the lingual artery under fluoros copic guidance. Two combinations of cytostatic agents were then contin ually infused through the catheter for 5-9 days. Treatment response wa s observed in 16 patients, 9 of whom showed a complete response. The c ombination of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil was found most effective. T he catheter became dislocated six times among 27 catheterizations and in each instance the position could be corrected. No major complicatio ns were encountered. We conclude that selective infusion technique is safer than previously reported semiselective infusions techniques.