Treatment of Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx and Cervical Esophagus by Arterial Infusion Method

Abstract

A case of the hypopharynx andd cervical esophagus successfully treated by arterial infusion method combined with radiotherapy was reported.A 51-year-old male with chief complaint of dysphagia was diagnosed as having a tumor arising from the left side of the esophageal wall at the level of the first narrowing, extending toward the opposite side. Histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma with keratinization was made by biopsy. Teflon catheters were inserted into; (1) the right superior thyroid artery for infusion via the superior laryngeal artery, (2) bilateral superficial cervical arteries for infusion via the inferior thyroid arteries, and (3) the left superior thyroid artery for infusion via its posterior ramus, with some time intervals. Infusion of 5-FU was carried out with simultaneous 65Co irradiation and the total amount of 8,000mg of 5-FU, i.e., 2,000mg for each of the four arteries, was given with the total irradiation dose of 5,000rad. After these treatments, the symptom of dysphagia subsided and the tumor disappeared on fluoroscopy. The so-called