Treatment Results and Patterns of Failure after Surgery for the Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Hypopharynx / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Radical surgery with radiotherapy is regarded as a standard treatment modality of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. However, reports on results of treatment and patterns of failure after surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer are lacking. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 1992 to December 1998, 39 previously untreated hypopharyngeal carcinoma patients were treated with surgery with or without postoperative radiotherapy at Severance Hospital. Ten were treated with surgery alone, RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 58.1%, of which 47.2% accounted for the group who received surgery only and 64.6% for the group who received surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy. Survival was best for posterior pharyngeal wall cancer (64.6%) and worst for pyriform sinus cancer (56.1%). Recurrence was noted in 31% (12/39) of the cases. The most common Failure site was the neck, Among the neck failures, three unusual retropharyngeal and paratracheal nodal failures were noted. CONCLUSION: Treatment with radical surgery may improve survival of patients with this notorious cancer. The extent of neck dissection for hypopharyngeal carcinoma may need to be evaluated with future trials. (Korean J Otolaryngol 2000; 43 528-34)