Functional results with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated with circular near-total pharyngolaryngectomy and jejunal free-flap repair

Abstract

Patients treated by a circular pharyngolaryngectomy for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma have a poor prognosis and disappointing speech restoration. Three carefully selected patients underwent a near-total laryngectomy circular pharyngectomy with jejunal free flap repair and dynamic tracheopharyngeal shunt for treatment of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma. They received induction chemotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy. We assessed the functional outcome. There was no major local complication. One year after the end of radiotherapy, all patients were able to eat solid diets. Two patients were able to speak immediately after the end of the treatment. After speech re-education, a high-quality tracheopharyngeal voice was restored in all three patients. Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients (PSSHN) showed a mean score equal to 81/100 at 1 year. In selected patients, near-total laryngectomy circular pharyngectomy with tracheopharyngeal shunt and jejunal free-flap repair offers good voice rehabilitation without impairing swallowing function.