Carotid Artery Infusion with Chemofiltration for Head & Neck Cancer | Oncological Clinic Medias in Burghausen, Germany

Carotid Artery Infusion with Chemofiltration is an advanced regional chemotherapy technique used to treat head and neck cancers. This method involves the direct administration of high-dose chemotherapy drugs into the carotid artery, the main blood vessel supplying the tumor. By delivering chemotherapy directly into the arterial system supplying the tumor, extremely high concentrations of anticancer drugs can reach the tumor while significantly reducing systemic exposure. During the procedure, special catheters are placed into the carotid artery under imaging guidance to ensure precise targeting of the tumor and surrounding affected tissues. Once the chemotherapy is infused, the drugs circulate through the tumor’s blood supply, allowing for intensive local treatment. At the same time, a chemofiltration system removes chemotherapy agents from the bloodstream before they can spread throughout the body. This filtration process helps to reduce systemic toxicity and protects healthy organs from the harmful effects of the drugs. This technique is particularly useful for treating advanced or difficult-to-reach tumors of the head and neck, including cancers of the oral cavity, tongue, throat, salivary glands, and sinuses. It can be used in cases where tumors are inoperable, recurrent, or resistant to conventional treatments such as systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In some patients, this therapy may help shrink tumors, making them operable or improving the effectiveness of other treatment methods. One of the main advantages of the method is the ability to deliver very high doses of chemotherapy directly to the tumor while minimizing side effects such as severe nausea, bone marrow suppression, and organ toxicity. Because the drugs are largely removed from the bloodstream after treatment, patients often tolerate higher doses than would be possible with standard intravenous chemotherapy.