Scalp cooling with cryogel packs was used to try to prevent hair loss in 29 women being treated with doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin) for advanced breast carcinoma and two men being treated for carcinoid tumor. Twenty-eight of these patients tolerated the procedure well, although a minority had minor complaints, all of which were transient in nature. The new technique developed proved very successful; 22 patients had either no hair loss or only slight hair loss that did not require a wig. Biochemical impairment of liver function appeared to be the main factor in preventing success.