Continuous methotraxate intra-arterial infusion in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Fifty-nine patients with malignant tumours on the head and neck area, were treated with continuous intra-arterial infusion of methotrexate into the external carotid artery from a catheter introduced through the superficial temporal artery. Each patient received intramuscular injections of folinic acid in a dosage of 6mg every 6 hours, and a total dose of 250mg of methotrexate during a five day treatment period. The patients had received no previous chemotherapy, radiotherapy nor surgery. Forty-four of the fifty-nine patients (74.5%) responded partially to treatment and three had complete remissions. No recurrence was observed after a follow-up of more than eight months. Twelve patients showed no response at all.