[Comprehensive treatment of 352 cases with hypopharyngeal cancer]

To review the experience of different surgical construction methods and comprehensive treatments for hypopharyngeal cancer.

Three hundred and fifty-two cases (According to UICC 2002 criteria, stage I, 3; II, 31; III, 134; IV, 184) with hypopharyngeal cancer were retrospectively reviewed from 1999 to 2005 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, including 321 males and 31 females. The median age was 58 years old, ranged from 26 to 82 years old. All the tumors originated from the pyriform sinus (272), posterior pharyngeal wall (61), postcricoid area (19). There were no distant metastasis. Two hundred and fourty-one cases were surgically treated with laryngeal functions preserved and 111 cases without laryngeal functions preserved. All the patients received modified neck dissection, including both unilateral (247 patients) and bilateral (105 patients). Pharyngoesophageal defect reconstruction methods in cases with laryngeal functions preserved were: direct suture in 137, pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap in 62, split graft in 2, pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap combined with the split graft in 5, stomach pulling-up in 12, colon interposition in 23 patients. While in cases without laryngeal functions preserved the methods includes: direct suture in 54, laryngotracheal flap in 54 patients, pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap in 7, laryngotracheal flap combined with pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap in 8, stomach pulling-up in 22, colon interposition in 3 patients. All patients received radiotherapy postoperatively (dose 55 - 75 Gy).

The overall 3 and 5 year survival rates were 65.1% (229/352) and 53.6% (142/265), respectively. For stage I, the 5 year survival rate was 3/3, stage II, 80.6%(25/31), stage III, 65.0% (67/103), stage IV, 36.7% (47/128). The 3 and 5 year survival rates in functionally preserved group were 68.0% (164/241) and 59.7% (114/191), respectively, while in non-functionally preserved group were 58.6% (65/111) and 37.8% (28/74), respectively. The cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 239 sides. Pathologic findings showed that well, moderately and lower differentiated squamous cell carcinomas were 84, 163, 105 cases, respectively. Laryngeal functions (voice, respiration and deglutition) were completely restored in 169 patients and partially restored (voice and deglutition) in 72 patients.

Combined surgery and radiotherapy are the best choice for hypopharyngeal cancer. The continuity of the pharyngoesophagus is restored and the laryngeal function is preserved as far as possible. The preservation of laryngeal function and the laryngeal and pharyngeal reconstruction are based on the premise that the tumor was excised completely.