Applications of carbon dioxide laser surgery and radiation. A preliminary report.

Ten patients with advanced or recurrent squamous cell carcinomas of the upper airway were treated with a combination of carbon dioxide laser surgery and radiation therapy to evaluate the tolerance to rapid sequencing of both modalities in a variety of clinical situations. Other considerations were to accurately stage infiltrating tumors, to provide cytoreduction for T3 and T4 tumors, and to facilitate the optimal placement of intracavitary radium applicators. Because of minimal postoperative pain or dysfunction associated with the laser, patients were able to receive irradiation considerably sooner than with conventional surgery.

Diagnosis of infratemporal fossa tumors using percutaneous core needle biopsy.

Three patients with infratemporal fossa carcinomas presented with severe, unrelenting facial pain, weight loss, and 5th cranial nerve deficit. Erosion of the base of the skull at the foramen ovale was present in two of these patients. Histologic diagnosis of infratemporal fossa malignancy was obtained by needle biopsy of the foramen ovale region; the technique is described.