[Results of incremental drug pain therapy in patients with head-and-neck tumors].

46 patients with progressive tumors in the head and neck region (18 x oropharynx, 13 x hypopharynx, 9 x larynx and 6 x other localization) were treated with a increasing analgetic therapy regimen (WHO schedule) for their cancer pain. The results of the therapy were recorded and controlled with the aid of scale methods. A good result was recorded with the administration of (a) peripheral analgetics on 42% of therapy days and (b) weak nonnarcotic opiates in combination with peripheral analgetic drugs and partially with psychopharmaceuticals (17.5%) on 51% of therapy days. A therapy with strong opiates (regularly in combination) was necessary on 7% of all therapy days. A total of 4848 therapy days have been considered here. The principles and problems of such a stepwise treatment schedule are discussed.