Usefulness of C-arm CT during superselective infusion chemotherapy for advanced head and neck carcinoma

Purpose of the study: To evaluate the usefulness of C‐arm computed tomography (CT) during superselective intra‐arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced head and neck carcinoma. Methods: C‐arm CT was performed during superselective intra‐arterial infusion chemotherapy for 11 patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma located in the hypopharynx (n = 3), maxillary sinus (n = 3), oropharynx (n = 1), larynx (n = 1), extra‐auditory canal (n = 1), tonsil (n = 1) and tongue (n = 1). The usefulness of C‐arm CT during superselective catheterisation was evaluated. Results: On arteriography, nine tumours showed tumour stains and two in the oropharynx or tonsil showed no obvious tumour stains. C‐arm CT was performed one to four times (mean ± standard deviation, 2.5 ± 0.8) in each patient during a single procedure. C‐arm CT clearly showed not only the vascular territory of the selected branch but also the tumour itself in all patients. Intra‐arterial infusion chemotherapy was performed through one to three branches (mean, 1.7 ± 0.9) according to C‐arm CT findings without any complications. Conclusion: C‐arm CT during superselective intra‐arterial infusion chemotherapy was useful to determine the arterial supply of head and neck carcinoma. C‐arm CT may replace conventional CT during superselective arteriography in this procedure.