A special method of intra-arterial infusion for treatment of head and neck cancer.

Immediately after radical neck dissection the external carotid artery is lengthened by an autogenic saphenous vein graft and sutured more proximally to the common carotid artery. All branches of the external carotid artery not contributing to the blood supply in the tumor region are ligated. After the wound has healed, the vascular graft will be easily palpable and can be punctured repeatedly for highly selective intra-arterial chemotherapy of the inoperable primary tumor for a prolonged period of time. The method seems to be practicable, innocuous, and more effective than conventional methods of intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer.