Surgical treatment for advanced carcinoma of hypopharynx and laryngeal function preservation

Abstract

To evaluate the treatment outcome advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma by surgery with laryngeal function preservation. Twenty cases with squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx who were treated by the function preserved surgery between January 2000 and March 2012 were reviewed. Of the patients 19 were males and 1 female, and their median age was 62.0 years. Eight cases were only applied with total or subtotal hypopharyngectomy, and others received total or subtotal hypopharyngectomy with partial-laryngectomy. Postoperative functional training was performed. Radiotherapy was used in all cases from 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. Speech intelligibility remained in all 20 patients and 80.0% of the patients were extracted the trachea tube in the average 60 days. Laryngeal functions of larynx can be preserved in advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma by total or subtotal hypopharyngectomy alone or plus partial laryngectomy with functional reconstruction, and the patients can maintain their rational speech and swallowing functions.