Lateral Pharyngotomy Approach Research Articles

Laryngeal Paraganglioma with Neck Metastasis.

Paragangliomas are neoplasms of neural crest cells. They represent less than 1% of head and neck tumors. Laryngeal paragangliomas constitute a smaller fraction of head and neck paragangliomas. Malignant laryngeal paragangliomas with metastasis are extremely rare tumors. Definitive treatment includes complete surgical excision with maximum preservation of laryngeal function. Here, we report a rare case of a 55year old woman who was diagnosed with recurrent laryngeal paraganglioma along with neck metastasis. A complete excision of mass with a lateral pharyngotomy approach along with neck dissection followed by chemotherapy was done.

Schwannoma base of Tongue - Case Report with a Novel Reconstruction Technique.

Schwannomas are benign, slow-growing well-encapsulated neoplasms arising from Schwann cells of nerve sheaths. Oral cavity schwannomas are very rare with an incidence less than 1%. The posterior third of the tongue is not frequently involved. We report a rare case of a large tongue base schwannoma in a 44 year old female managed surgically by lateral pharyngotomy approach. A novel reconstruction method involving the use of submental flap is described for the functional reconstruction of the defect. Being a rare tumor, schwannoma should not be missed in the differential diagnosis of tongue base tumors. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice with recurrence being very rare.

Cribriform adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary glands: a case report

BackgroundPolymorphous adenocarcinoma is the third most common malignant salivary gland tumor. Within polymorphous adenocarcinoma, cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary glands is a rare subtype and resembles papillary thyroid carcinoma histopathologically. Diagnostically, cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary glands is challenging for pathologists and surgeons alike as initial presentation and cytologic nuclear features can be easily confused with papillary thyroid carcinoma arising from a thyroglossal duct remnant or lingual thyroid.Case presentationA healthy 64-year-old Caucasian woman presented to a community otolaryngologist with a 4-year history of progressive postnasal drip, globus sensation, and eventual dysphonia. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy showed a large, smooth, vallecular lesion filling the oropharynx. Computed tomography imaging of the neck showed a rounded heterogeneous mass centered within the right aspect of the oropharynx measuring 4.2 × 4.4 × 4.5 cm. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was suspicious for papillary carcinoma due to microscopic findings of malignant cells, nuclear grooves, and a powdery chromatin pattern. In the operating room, the tumor was resected en bloc using a lateral pharyngotomy approach with partial resection of the right lateral hyoid. A limited cervical lymphadenectomy was performed to facilitate the lateral pharyngotomy approach and two out of three lymph nodes demonstrated regional metastatic disease. Nuclear grooves, nuclear membrane notching, and occasional intranuclear pseudoinclusions were identified, which are overlapping histopathological characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma and cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary glands. It was negative for thyroglobulin and thyroid transcription factor-1, which was in keeping with cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary glands rather than papillary thyroid carcinoma.ConclusionIt is difficult to distinguish cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary glands from papillary thyroid carcinoma solely by cytology, and the distinct characteristics of regional lymph node metastasis coupled with nuanced histologic differences should be emphasized in the evaluation of patients presenting with neck lymphadenopathy and an unknown primary or tongue mass. If sufficient fine needle aspiration biopsy material is available, thyroid transcription factor-1, thyroglobulin, or molecular testing may prove useful in differentiating cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary glands from papillary thyroid carcinoma. A misdiagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma may lead to inappropriate treatment including unnecessary thyroidectomy. Therefore, it is critical for both pathologists and surgeons to be aware of this uncommon entity to avoid misdiagnosis and subsequent mismanagement.

Functional Outcomes After Transoral Plus Lateral Pharyngotomy Approach for Advanced Oral and Oropharyngeal Tumors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate our institutional experience with the combined transoral plus lateral pharyngotomy (TO+LP) approach in a subset of patients with advanced or recurrent oral and oropharyngeal malignancy. A retrospective study of procedures utilizing TO+LP for cancer resection between January 2007 and July 2019. Tertiary academic medical center. Thirty-one patients underwent a TO+LP approach for the resection of oral and oropharyngeal tumors. Functional and oncologic outcomes were analyzed. Eighteen (58.1%) patients were treated with TO+LP for recurrent disease. Twenty-nine required free tissue transfer and 2 (6.5%) had positive margins. The median time to decannulation was 22 days (range 6-100 days). Thirteen (41.9%) patients still required enteral feeding at their most recent follow-up. Patients without a history of prior radiation were decannulated sooner (p = .009) and were less likely to require enteral feeding at the first postoperative follow-up (p = .034) than those who had prior head and neck radiotherapy. A TO+LP approach can be used to achieve good functional and oncologic results for selected patients with advanced or recurrent oral and oropharyngeal cancer when minimally invasive options such as transoral robotic surgery, transoral laser microsurgery, or radiotherapy are not possible.

Carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx: surgical treatment with larynx preservation

IntroductionPosterior pharyngeal wall is the most rare subsite for hypopharyngeal carcinomas. Because of its rarity, there are few studies published in the literature specifically concerning posterior pharyngeal wall carcinoma. ObjectivesTo report our functional results in patients with the carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx after surgical treatment by resection via a lateral or infrahyoid pharyngotomy approach, with the preservation of the larynx and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap. MethodsThe study included 10 patients who underwent surgery for a carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx over a 6 year period. The associated postoperative morbidity was investigated and functional results were analyzed. ResultsNine patients had T3 lesions and one patient had a T2 lesion. The preferred approach to access the hypopharynx was a lateral pharyngotomy in 5 patients and lateral pharyngotomy combined with infrahyoid pharyngotomy in 5 patients with superior extension to oropharynx. The pharyngeal defects were reconstructed successfully with radial forearm free flaps. Four patients received adjuvant radiotherapy only, and 4 patients with N2b and N2c neck diseases received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The mean duration of hospitalization was 15.6 days (range, 10–21 days). All patients achieved oral intake in a median time of 74 days (range, 15–180). Decannulation was achieved in all patients and the median time for decannulation was 90 (range, 21–300 days). The mean followup duration was 38.3 months (range, 10–71 months) and 8 patients survived. One patient died due to regional recurrence in the retropharyngeal lymph nodes and 1 patient died due to systemic metastasis. ConclusionPrimary surgery is still a very effective treatment modality for the carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx and does not permanently compromise the swallowing and laryngeal functions if pharyngeal reconstruction is performed with a free flap.

Management of laryngeal cleft in mechanically ventilated children with severe comorbidities

Laryngeal clefts are rare congenital malformations of the posterior part of the larynx. The severities are correlated with the downward extension of the cleft and can involve numerous clinical symptoms including dysphagia and respiratory distress. As significant comorbidities may be present, individual treatments depend on the child’s general condition and type of cleft involved. Herein, we describe two cases of children with laryngeal clefts and severe comorbidities requiring mechanical ventilation. One child with type III laryngeal cleft was successfully managed with the lateral pharyngotomy approach. The other child with type II laryngeal cleft has not been able to undergo cleft-closure surgery because of severe general conditions, therefore has continued training for feeding and swallowing.

Review of ‘‘Transoral Robotic Surgery With Radial Forearm Free Flap Reconstruction: Case Control Analysis’’ by Biron VL, O’Connell DA, Barber B, Clark JM, Andrews C, Jeffery CC, Côté DW, Harris J, Seikaly H in Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

Surgical management of large oropharygneal malignancies has always been a challenging procedure due to the risk of significant morbidity. Traditional approaches to surgical management of these tumors involved a lip-splitting mandibulotomy to completely excise these complex lesions and appropriately reconstruct the defects. Biron et al present an interesting and innovative approach (Fig 1) to managing these malignancies surgically, with a less morbid approach. The use of robotic surgery in oral and maxillofacial, and head and neck surgery, continues to increase. Biron et al compared the outcomes of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, 18 of whom were treated with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) resection and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap (RFFF), and 39 patients being treated with a lip-splitting mandibulotomy and RFFF reconstruction. Their results demonstrated that addressing these lesions with TORS led to a shorter hospital stay post-operatively (14.4 days vs. 19.7 days), but no significant differences in regards to post-operative complications or morbidity. It is important to note that the RFFF inset was not performed with TORS, but with direct visualization via the neck dissection incision and lateral pharyngotomy approach. This study describes another treatment modality for oropharygneal malignancies, and demonstrates the primary benefit of decreased hospital length of stay postoperatively. The use of TORS in head and neck surgery also affords us the ability to appropriately treat patients with a less morbid approach.

Lateral pharyngotomy approach in the treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Surgery for early-intermediate oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) may involve using transoral endoscopic approaches or open surgical procedures. "Lateral pharyngotomy" (LP) is an open surgical approach that improves exposure of the oropharyngeal region, while avoiding mandibulotomy. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively analyze our experience with the surgical treatment of early-intermediate OPSCC using the LP approach, and to investigate the potentially prognostic clinical and/or pathological factors that might identify patients at higher risk of recurrence after primary surgery. Sixty-four patients with previously untreated early-intermediate (pT1-T2-T3) OPSCC consecutively underwent partial pharyngectomy using a LP approach, performed by the same surgical team at a tertiary head and neck oncology center (Otolaryngology Unit, Vittorio Veneto Hospital, Italy). The 2-year disease-specific survival rates were 86% for stage I-II and 77% for stage III-IV disease. All patients who experienced locoregional or distant metastases died of their disease, while no patients died of any complications of the treatment. Postoperative complications occurred in 25 patients (39%), the most common being pharyngocutaneous fistula. All but one of the patients experienced a complete recovery of oral food intake. In conclusion, the LP approach to oropharyngeal cancer could be a valid open surgical alternative to oropharyngectomy with mandibulotomy for: (a) patients with early-intermediate OPSCC in whom oropharyngeal exposure proves difficult, and/or who are not eligible for transoral endoscopic surgery; (b) HPV-negative OPSCCs; and

Lateral pharyngotomy for selected invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the lateral oropharynx. Part II: When and why

To analyze local failure following lateral pharyngotomy for selected untreated invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lateral oropharynx. Retrospective review from a university teaching hospital. Inception cohort of 91 patients who underwent lateral pharyngotomy for an isolated and previously untreated selected invasive carcinoma of the lateral oropharynx classified as T1 (26), T2 (47), T3 (11), and T4 (7). Induction chemotherapy, neck dissection, and postoperative radiation therapy were used in 91.2%, 94.5%, and 53.5% of patients. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimate of local failure was 16.6% for T1, 19% for T2, 38.6% for T3, and 16.7% for T4 lesions (P = .46). In a logistic regression model, only positive margins of resection statistically increased (P = .01) the risk for local failure. In patients with safe margins of resection, the 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimate of local failure was 5.6% for T1 lesions, 10.7% for T2 lesions, 23.8% for T3 lesions, and 20% for T4 lesions (P = .4). Local failure had a significant impact on increased nodal failure (P = .001) and on reduced survival (P < .0001). The lateral pharyngotomy approach should be viewed as a valuable oncologic alternative to both mandibulotomy and chemoradiation in patients with selected SCC of the lateral oropharynx.

Laryngeal Paraganglioma: A Rare Clinical Entity Managed by Supraselective Embolization and Lateral Pharygotomy

Laryngeal paragangliomas are benign slow growing tumors with symptoms resembling squamous cell carcinoma. Hoarseness or dysphasia are the commonest presenting symptoms and usually it presents as an submucosal mass on laryngoscopy. Ninety percentage of these tumors occur in the supraglottic larynx and the rest in the glottis and the subglottic region. Functional activity is seen in a few (2.9%), none are associated with paraneoplastic syndromes. A 35-year-old male presented to us with hoarseness of voice since 4months duration. Contrast arteriography demonstrated that the left superior thyroid artery supplied >80% of the blood supply to the laryngeal mass. Supraselective embolization was done from the right femorals under local anaesthesia and sedation which was uneventfull. The tumor was excised from lateral pharyngotomy approach with an partial laryngectomy procedure. Microscopy and immune-histochemistry confirmed it to be paraganglioma. Complete surgical resection or partial laryngectomy with meticulous dissection of surrounding tissues and preservation of neurovascular structures gives an excellent prognosis as far as oncological clearance is concerned. Malignant paragangliomas of the larynx are rare and an major meta-analysis is necessary to provide a true biological behaviour of this tumor.

Can the transoral approach secure a cancer-free deep margin in tonsil cancer?

To verify whether the submuscular plane of the constrictor muscle, which is the resection margin in a transoral approach, is sufficient for securing a cancer-free deep margin in tonsil cancer patients. Retrospective analysis of medical records and pathology specimens was done in sixty-two patients who were diagnosed with tonsil cancer and underwent surgery via a combined transoral-transcervical (transoral and transcervical lateral pharyngotomy) approach. The status of constrictor muscular invasion in tonsil cancer patients according to the TN stage and its predictors was investigated. Invasion or penetration of the constrictor muscle was found in three (27.3%), 30 (76.9%), and 12 (100%) stage T1, T2, and T3-4 patients, respectively. In the univariate analysis, invasion or penetration of the constrictor muscle was significantly correlated with gender (p=0.004), stage >T2 (tumor ≥2 cm; p=0.001), and N(+) (p=0.004). The multivariate analysis showed that stage >T2 [tumor ≥2 cm; odds ratio (OR), 18.226; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.976-111.608; p=0.002] and N(+) (OR, 7.560; 95% CI, 1.478-38.671; p=0.015) were significantly correlated with an increased risk of muscle invasion or penetration. The transoral approach is seems to be insufficient for securing a cancer-free deep margin in tonsil cancer beyond stage T2 or N1. The tumor beyond this stage should be treated more aggressively using multiple treatment modalities including radical surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Supraglottic Laryngeal Paraganglioma: A Rare Clinical Entity managed by Lateral Pharyngotomy Approach

ABSTRACT Background/objectives Laryngeal paragangliomas are benign slow growing tumors with symptoms resembling squamous cell carcinoma. Hoarseness or dysphasia is the commonest presenting symptom and usually it presents as a submucosal mass on laryngoscopy. A total of 90% of these tumors occur in the supraglottic larynx and the rest in the glottis and the subglottic region. Functional activity is seen in a few (2.9%), none are associated with paraneoplastic syndromes. Setting Department of Head and Neck Oncosurgery, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru. Case report A 35-year-old male presented to us with hoarseness of voice since 4 months duration. Contrast arteriography demonstrated that the left superior thyroid artery supplied greater than 80% of the blood supply to the laryngeal mass. Superselective embolization was done from the right femoral under local anesthesia and sedation which was uneventful. Intervention The tumor was excised from lateral pharyngotomy approach with an elective tracheostomy. Microscopy suggested it to be paraganglioma and immunohistochemistry confirmed it. Conclusion Complete surgical resection or partial laryngectomy with meticulous dissection of surrounding tissues and preservation of neurovascular structures give an excellent prognosis as far as oncological clearance is concerned. Malignant paragangliomas of the larynx are rare and a major meta-analysis is necessary to provide a true biological behavior of this tumor. How to cite this article Naik SM. Supraglottic Laryngeal Paraganglioma: A Rare Clinical Entity managed by Lateral Pharyngotomy Approach. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2012;2(2): 69-73.

A Case of Lingual Thyroid Resected by a Lateral Pharyngotomy Approach

A Case of Lingual Thyroid Resected by a Lateral Pharyngotomy Approach

Angiolipoma Larynx: A Case Report

We report an extremely rare case of angiolipoma larynx Case report and a review of the world literature concerning angiolipoma are presented. A case of tumour of the larynx in a 72-year-old male who underwent excision by a lateral pharyngotomy approach. Histopathological diagnosis was angiolipoma. 19 cases of angiolipoma have been reported from head and neck region, none from the larynx. To our knowledge this is the first report in the world literature of angiolipoma larynx.

Larynx-Preserving Partial Pharyngectomy via Lateral Pharyngotomy for the Treatment of Small (T1~2) Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

ObjectivesTo evaluate the oncologic and functional results of larynx-preserving partial pharyngectomy (LPP) via lateral pharyngotomy approach as a primary treatment for small (T1 or T2) hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC).MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of 23 patients who underwent LPP through lateral pharyngotomy approach for small HPSCC at the our department between January 1991 and June 2007. Fourteen (61%) patients had adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy.ResultsThe 2-years and 5-years disease specific survival rate was 77% and 61%, respectively. Nine patients (39%) had tumor recurrence. The most common pattern of recurrence was isolated distant failure (n=4, 44%) followed by local (n=2, 22%) and loco-regional (n=3, 34%) recurrence. The ultimate cure rate of the primary tumor was 87% (20 of 23). Twenty-two of the 23 patients (95%) could be decannulated, tolerate an oral diet, and had acceptable postoperative phonatory function.ConclusionLPP via lateral pharyngotomy approach appears to be a feasible procedure for selected small HPSCC patients in terms of both oncologic and functional outcomes.

Laryngeal Schwannoma Excision by Lateral Pharyngotomy

ABSTRACT Neurogenic tumors of the larynx are extremely rare. Here, we are reporting a case of laryngeal schwannoma presenting as supraglottic submucosal lesion with hoarseness and stridor, which was excised by lateral pharyngotomy approach. This presentation is to further discuss the histology of neurogenic tumors, modes of presentation, differential diagnosis and treatment modalities.

Surgical Approach for Oropharyngeal Cancer

Received August 17, 2011 Revised October 18, 2011 Accepted October 19, 2011 Address for correspondence Kyung Tae, MD Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea Tel +82-2-2290-8585 Fax +82-2-2293-3335 E-mail kytae@hanyang.ac.kr Background and ObjectivesZZIn order to eradicate the disease and preserve function of oropharynx and facial contour, appropriate surgical approach should be chosen for surgical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of various surgical approaches in the surgical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer. Subjects and MethodZZWe analyzed 65 patients with oropharyngeal cancer who underwent surgery as a primary treatment from Jan. 1994 to Jun. 2009, retrospectively. Primary tumor site, TNM stage, surgical approach, management of neck, reconstruction method, complication, recurrence rate were analyzed to assess advantages and disadvantages of various surgical approaches. ResultsZZThe surgical approaches applied were transoral approach in 25, mandibulotomy in 23, lower cheek flap in 4, trans-pharyngeal in 9, and mandibular lingual releasing approach in 4. Most of T1 lesion was resected by transoral approach (65.0%). For advanced T3 and T4, mandibulotomy was mainly used. Lateral pharyngotomy and mandibular lingual release approach were used for the surgery of moderate size of oropharyngeal cancer. The locoregional recurrence rate did not differ according to different surgical approaches with regard to T and N stages. ConclusionZZTransoral approach is very useful for the most of small oropharyngeal cancer. Mandibulotomy provides most wide surgical view for advanced T3, T4 oropharyngeal cancer. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2011;54:853-8

Kimura's disease of the epiglottis: Resection by a lateral pharyngotomy approach

Kimura's disease of the epiglottis: Resection by a lateral pharyngotomy approach

Extended Lateral Pharyngotomy for Selected Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Lateral Tongue Base

In a retrospective review of an inception cohort of 26 patients with an isolated, previously untreated, moderately to well-differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the lateral tongue base, consecutively managed with an extended lateral pharyngotomy approach at a single tertiary referral care center, the authors review the key surgical points, highlight the potential technical pitfalls, and document the complications and long-term functional and oncological outcomes in terms of survival and local control. The adjunctive measures included induction chemotherapy, ipsilateral neck dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy, used in 96.1%, 96.1%, and 38.5% of patients, respectively. All patients but 2 were followed for at least 5 years or until death (maximum, 158 months). The significant postoperative complications included pharyngocutaneous fistula in 3 patients (11.5%) and hemorrhage requiring reoperation, partial flap necrosis, and pneumonia from aspiration in 1 patient (3.8%) each. In univariate analysis, no significant statistical relationship was noted between the significant postoperative complications noted and the variables under analysis. Overall, successful oral alimentation was achieved in 100% of patients by the first postoperative month without gastrostomy, tracheotomy, or completion total laryngectomy. There were no intraoperative or perioperative deaths. The main causes of death were metachronous second primary tumor, intercurrent disease, and distant metastasis, resulting in 84.6%, 64%, and 46.9% 1-, 3-, and 5-year Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival estimates, respectively. Two patients (7.6%) had local recurrence, resulting in 100%, 86.7%, and 86.7% 1-, 3-, and 5-year Kaplan-Meier actuarial local control estimates, respectively. As a function of T stage, the 3- and 5-year actuarial local control estimates were 100%, 87.5%, and 90.9% in patients with tumors classified as T1, T2, and T3-T4a, respectively. Such results suggest that extended lateral pharyngotomy should be integrated among the various conservative treatment options available to patients with selected carcinomas of the lateral tongue base.

A Case of Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma Involving Hypopharynx

Liposarcoma in larynx and hypopharyx is an extremely rare and dedifferentiated liposarcoma that has never been reported in Korean literature. The 48-year-old male patient was referred to ENT because of acute airway obstruction during gastrofiberscopic biopsy. The neck and chest CT scan showed pharyngeal mass extending esophagus and lateral neck. In operation, we found that pharyngeal and lateral neck mass were connected through pharyngeal wall. The mass was removed en bloc via open neck and lateral pharyngotomy approach. The postoperative pathologic examination revealed dedifferenciated liposarcoma. We report a very rare condition with a literature review. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2009;52:627-30 Key WordsZZLiposarcoma·Hypopharynx.