title: Feasibility and safety of transfemoral intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer using a 3-French catheter system: comparison with a 4-French catheter system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the technical feasibility of transfemoral intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer using a 3-French catheter system (3-Fr).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two patients with head and neck cancer who underwent transfemoral intra-arterial chemotherapy were included in this study. Thirty-three patients underwent treatment using a 3-Fr (group 3-Fr). Twenty-nine patients underwent treatment using a 4-French catheter system (group 4-Fr). The technical success rate, duration of the procedure with fluoroscopy, and rate of procedure-related complications were compared between group 3-Fr and group 4-Fr. In addition, in group 3-Fr, bleeding at the puncture site after 1.5 h of bed rest was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The technical success rate was 100% in both groups. The duration of the procedure with fluoroscopy didn't differ between group 3-Fr (mean 28.0 min) and group 4-Fr (mean 30.2 min) (p = 0.524). There was no procedure-related complication in either group. In group 3-Fr, no hemorrhagic complication was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 3-French catheter system can be used to perform transfemoral intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer and is technically feasible with approximately the same duration of the procedure with fluoroscopy. Furthermore, this method may shorten the bed rest time without hemorrhagic complication, and may reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0192, Japan. jiro@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torigoe
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanki
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D011677:Punctures; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: 3-French catheter system; Head and neck cancer; Intra-arterial chemotherapy