[Cancer treatment using a new laser apparatus].

We have been treating cancer since 1980 with a CO2 laser and since 1983 have added a Nd-YAG laser. We are applying the contact YAG laser with a new ceramics tip to cancer therapy. This ceramics laser is markedly different in its point of contact or noncontact from conventional lasers. In addition, one can use this laser at relatively low power (under 10 W). Also, we have recently developed a new ceramics tip for localized laser hyperthermia. The head and neck region is very irregular and present equipment is difficult to apply to this region. This type of hyperthermia was used on human thyroid anaplastic carcinoma transplanted into the necks of nude mice. In two of five nude mice decreased tumor size was observed 2 weeks after hyperthermia. Thereafter this technique has also been used in combination with radio-chemotherapy for patients with head and neck cancer. This localized laser hyperthermia was applied to the treatment of a patient with tongue cancer. This patient was given two localized hyperthermic treatments combined with 4,000 rads of radiation therapy and 5-Fu-administration for 4 weeks. A hemiglossectomy was performed using the contact YAG laser technique. A histological examination of the excised specimen failed to find evidence of tumor cells.