[Morphology of laryngeal cancer in radiotherapy combined with the use of metronidazole].

The authors described clinicomorphological correlations in the evaluation of the efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy combined with metronidazole (MZ) in laryngeal cancer patients. A study was made of the tumors from 61 laryngeal cancer patients following radiation exposure at a summary dose of 20 and 32 Gy with and without MZ. Histological change of a tumor confirmed a radiosensitizing effect of MZ. However the MZ effect was not equally noticeable in tumor central and peripheral parts. Microscopic foci of the affected epithelium of the larynx and gland mucosa, muscular cells and vessels were revealed. MZ produces a stimulating effect on collagen production by fibroblasts.