A critical review of hypopharyngeal carcinomas--1975-1985

Seventy-seven patients with hypopharyngeal carcinomas who presented to Groote Schuur Hospital between 1975 and 1985 are reviewed. Of these patients 76.6%, mostly with pyriform fossa tumours, had advanced disease. The overall 5-year survival was poor (10.5%) despite combined radiotherapy and surgery in many. Local tumour control remains poor and a split course of radiotherapy offers no solution.