[Preoperative intravenous and intra-arterial cytostatic therapy (VMBP) in carcinoma of the head and neck].

Two groups of patients with carcinomas of the oropharynx and the oral cavity were selected for praeoperative cytostatic therapy. Vincristine, Methotrexate, Bleomycin and Cisplatin were administered intravenously and intra-arterially (VMBP). The remission rates of the tumours (complete and partial remission) were, for intra-arterial application, 81%, and for intravenous application, 66.7%, indicating a possible superiority of intra-arterial therapy. In 10 intra-arterial (47.6%) and in 8 intravenous cases (38.1%), a complete clinical remission was accomplished. This was confirmed by the histological examination of the tumours, where no tumour cells could be recognized.