Intra-arterial radionuclide infusion as an aid to assess chemotherapy perfusion patterns.

Regional treatment of advanced head and neck cancer by intra-arterial infusion has been tried for several years. The aim of such treatment is to increase the concentration of the drug in the tumor area while decreasing systemic toxicity. The exact localization of the intra-arterial catheter is thereby the key to effective treatment. This report describes the results of radionuclide imaging as an aid to defining the perfusion pattern in comparison with vital dye injection and contrast angiography. It is concluded that radionuclide infusion imaging is the best method to monitor the localization of the catheter.