Effectiveness of superselective intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy targeting retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis

We sought to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of superselective intra-arterial infusion of high-dose cisplatin with concomitant radiotherapy (hereafter RADPLAT) for head and neck squamous cell cancer (hereafter HNSCC) patients with retropharyngeal lymph node (hereafter RPLN) metastasis. A retrospective case series review was conducted at University medical center in Japan. Ten HNSCC patients with RPLN metastasis treated by RADPLAT were analyzed. The ascending pharyngeal artery was targeted for the treatment of RPLN metastasis in 9 patients. The median total dose of cisplatin was 26.6 mg/m² (mean 31.5 mg/m², range 11.7–87.9 mg/m²). In the remaining patient, the RPLN was supplied by the ascending palatine artery. As grade 3 and 4 adverse effects, leukopenia was observed in three, mucositis in four and nausea in one patient. No neurological complications were observed in any patients. Metastatic RPLNs were evaluated as a complete response in all patients. There was no recurrence of RPLN metastasis in any patients. Four patients remain alive without any evidence of disease and six patients died of disease. The 5-year overall survival rate was 50 %. We have shown that superselective intra-arterial cisplatin infusion for RPLNs was a feasible and effective approach for HNSCC patients with RPLN metastasis.