Organ Preservation Protocols Research Articles

261 High rate of Dropping from follow-up hinders implementing rectal cancer organ preservation protocols

261 High rate of Dropping from follow-up hinders implementing rectal cancer organ preservation protocols

One hundred fifty years of total laryngectomies.

The inaugural total laryngectomy in history was conducted by Billroth in 1873. Nevertheless, significant enhancements to the technique were achieved through the contributions of Gluck, Sorensen, and various other surgeons. Throughout the twentieth century, advancements in anesthesia, infectious disease, hospital hygiene, antibiotic therapy, resuscitation, and the expertise of numerous laryngologists elevated total laryngectomy to a pivotal surgical intervention in head and neck surgery. The latter half of the twentieth century witnessed a paradigm shift with the emergence of organ preservation protocols. Total laryngectomy became the preferred choice for patients experiencing radiotherapy failure. However, the widespread use of laryngeal conservative treatments appears to be correlated with a decline in overall survival rates in the United States and Europe. The evolution of new minimally invasive surgical approaches in the twenty-first century may usher in a revolutionary era in the management of laryngeal carcinoma, offering the potential for improved survival and functional outcomes.

Pharyngocutaneous Fistula after Laryngectomy: An Umbrella Systematic Review to Uncover Lacunae in Meta-Analyses

Objective—The objective of this study was to systematically assess meta-analyses to determine the lacunae in the literature for PCF following laryngectomy. Methods—Bibliometric analysis were carried out on meta-analyses on PCF after total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer in the PubMed database. Results—Twenty-four meta-analyses were considered eligible and chosen for analysis. Six meta-analyses (25%) focused on the risk factors for PCF in TL. Four meta-analyses (16.6%) focused on the role of the onlay flap. Four meta-analyses (16.6%) focused on the timing of feed initiation. Three meta-analyses (12.5%) focused on using a stapler for pharyngeal closure. Two meta-analyses focused on types of pharyngeal reconstruction. Other meta-analyses analyzed the use of salivary bypass tubes, the method of pharyngeal closure, organ preservation protocols on PCF, primary and secondary TEP, and the effect of non-surgical treatment on PCF. Conclusion—Despite plenty of published meta-analyses, there is a lack of scrutiny on certain critical aspects of PCF.

Tinnitus and organ preservation protocols in head and neck cancers treatment: a descriptive review of the literature

Tinnitus and organ preservation protocols in head and neck cancers treatment: a descriptive review of the literature

Pectoralis Major in Salvage Total Laryngectomy after Irradiation: Morbidity, Mortality, Functional, and Oncological Results in a Referral Center in Egypt.

Nonsurgical organ preservation protocols have seen a large diffusion worldwide in the last decades. Their oncological and functional effectiveness in a real-world setting has been recently questioned because of the high morbidity of salvage procedures. The aim of this study is to review the outcomes of postirradiation salvage total laryngectomy (STL) and reconstruction with pectoralis major flap. This retrospective observational study included 37 cases of STL in the period from January 2015 to December 2021. Data for each patient were extracted from the hospital information system and reviewed. The 3-year overall and disease-specific survival are, respectively, 28% and 51%. Only seven recurrences after salvage surgery were recorded and all of them died from the disease. The other 14 deaths derived from comorbidities, with diabetes being the most significant predictive parameter for overall survival. Also, lower postoperative albumin levels were associated with a higher risk of death. Overall survival after STL and reconstruction with PMMF is low but most deaths are due to comorbidities and not to cancer progression or recurrence.

Outcome Comparison of Functional Laryngectomy for the Dysfunctional Larynx to Salvage Laryngectomy.

To compare functional outcomes of total laryngectomy (TL) with microvascular free tissue transfer (MVFTT) reconstruction in the treatment of dysfunctional larynx (DL) versus salvage therapy for locally recurrent disease in patients with a history of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Retrospective review from a tertiary medical center between August 2015 and August 2022. Sixty-nine patients underwent TL with MVFTT following primary laryngeal radiation or chemoradiation; 15 (22%) patients underwent functional laryngectomy (FL) and 54 (78%) underwent a salvage laryngectomy (SL). There were no total flap failures. Four (6%) patients developed a pharyngocutaneous fistula; one (7%) FL patient and 3 (6%) in the SL cohort. There was no significant difference in average hospital length of stay (LOS) between the cohorts (8.6 ± 3.0 days vs. 12.8 ± 10.1 days, p = 0.12). All patients (100%) in the FL cohort achieved a total oral diet compared to 41 (76%) in the SL cohort (p = 0.03). Two (13%) and 10 (19%) patients developed pharyngoesophageal stenosis in the FL and SL cohorts, respectively (p = 1.0). Nine (60%) and 23 (43%) patients in the FL and SL cohorts underwent tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) placement, with 89% and 91% achieving fluency, respectively (p = 0.23). Although the role of TL for the definitive treatment of laryngeal SCC has decreased over the past 30 years, organ-preservation protocols can impact speech, swallowing, and airway protection with life-threatening consequences. The use of elective FL with MVFTT for the treatment of DL results in similar or better functional outcomes compared to SL for recurrent disease. 3 Laryngoscope, 134:222-227, 2024.

Frequency of axillary nodal complete pathological response of breast cancer patients in neoadjuvant chemotherapy setting: A cross-sectional study.

Pathological complete response (pCR) occurs in about 20-30% of patients undergoing systemic neoadjuvant therapy. This leads to the idea of sparing the patient the morbidity associated with axillary surgery. "Wait and watch" policy for cancers which achieve complete pathological response on neoadjuvant systemic therapy is a well-established practice in various cancers like the esophagus, rectum and larynx. This has led to organ preservation protocols being practiced worldwide for these cancers without affecting the overall survival of the patient. We believe patients undergoing a complete pathological response in the breast may be spared axillary surgery. Axillary surgery leads to morbidity and extra financial burden with no added advantage in survival. A total of 326 patients with breast cancer who had received neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy from 2015 to 2020 were included in our retrospective study. Final histopathology of the breast and axillary surgery was noted to report the frequency of complete pathological response. The frequency of positive nodal disease with respect to stage, grade and type of cancer was measured. Among 326 patients, our study showed that 53% of patients with complete pathological response in breast also had complete response in the axilla compared to 43% with incomplete pathological response. No significant difference was found for age, menopausal status, initial tumor size when patients with complete pathological response were compared to non or partial responders. The rate of complete pathological response was higher in patients with clinically node negative patients after NACT, hormone negative, HER2 positive and triple negative population. Our results indicated that 53% of the patients who developed complete pathological response in the breast underwent needless axillary procedure. Axillary surgery can be staged after the breast surgery if residual tumor is present on the histopathological specimen. In case of pCR, omission of axillary surgery can be considered. However, a larger population, multi-centric studies are needed for treatment guidelines.

Secondary Cold Ischemia After Normothermic Machine Perfusion: A Drawback to Centralized Organ Perfusion Centers?

Secondary Cold Ischemia After Normothermic Machine Perfusion: A Drawback to Centralized Organ Perfusion Centers?

Survival Analysis in Patients with Laryngeal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The worldwide incidence rate of laryngeal cancer is declining. However, the 5-year survival for these patients has decreased in recent years from 66% to 63%. This may be due to changes in the treatment of the disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the survival rate of patients with LC according to the stage of the disease and the treatment applied. For this purpose, surgical versus organ preservation protocols (OPP) based on chemoradiotherapy were evaluated. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary hospital. The study included adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of primary LC. Patients with LC and systemic metastases and those with synchronous tumors at diagnosis were excluded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association between exposure to LC treatment and the time to event (death). Overall survival (OS), cause-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated. Patients with advanced tumors (stages III and IV) had almost three times the risk of LC death than those in the initial tumor stages (I and II) [HR CCS = 2.89 (95%CI 1.30-6.39)]; [HR OS = 2.01 (95%CI 1.35-2.98)]. Patients who underwent surgical treatment had a higher chance of survival than those who were treated according to OPP [HR = 0.62; 95%CI (0.38-1.02)] in CSS, 0.74 [95%CI (0.50-1.90)] in OS, and 0.61 [95%CI (0.40-0.91)] in DFS. OPP changed the management of patients with advanced stages of LC, establishing CRT as an alternative to surgery. Our data did not reveal clinically relevant differences in OS between patients treated with OPP and those who underwent surgery; however, we reported differences in the DFS rate after five years of follow-up in favor of the surgery-treated group of patients. Surgical treatment improves CSS and DFS at five years in patients with initial LC with respect to radiation therapy alone. Furthermore, surgical treatment associated with complementary radiation therapy offers better CSS and DFS in patients with advanced LC.

Organ Preservation in Patients With Advanced Laryngeal Tumours. Results of Induction Chemotherapy Versus Chemoradiotherapy in Actual Clinical Practice

Introduction and objectivesA high percentage of patients with locally advanced laryngeal carcinoma are candidates for inclusion in organ preservation protocols. The aim of this study was to compare in actual clinical practice the results of two preservation schemes, induction chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy, in patients with locally advanced laryngeal carcinoma. MethodsRetrospective study conducted in 157 patients with locally advanced laryngeal tumours (T3-T4) treated with induction chemotherapy (n=121) or chemoradiotherapy (n=36). ResultsOf the 121 patients who started treatment with induction chemotherapy, 6 died as a result of toxicity, 37 were treated with surgery, and 78 completed the preservation scheme; 36 patients were treated with chemoradiotherapy. There was no significant difference in specific survival at 5 years according to whether the patients had started treatment with either induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (68.9% versus 75.7%, P=.259). A total of 45.9% of the patients achieved preservation of laryngeal function. There was a tendency for patients treated with chemotherapy to achieve laryngeal dysfunction-free survival at 5 years, which was higher than the patients treated with induction chemotherapy (55.6% versus 44.8%, P=.079). ConclusionThe patients included in a preservation protocol achieved 45.9% laryngeal dysfunction-free survival at 5 years. No significant difference in specific survival was observed between patients treated with induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

A dynamic prognostic nomogram to predict the benefit from surgical treatment modality for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Although nonsurgical treatment strategy is increasingly adopted in patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), survival disparities were reported between surgical treatment modality and organ preservation protocols, highlighting the great importance for accurate patients' selection. This secondary analysis used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2010 and 2015 with follow-up data up to 2018. We developed and validated a dynamic prognostic nomogram for overall survival (OS) in 4237 patients with LSCC and subgroup of 2087 patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LALSCC). Based on the total risk score derived from the dynamic nomogram, two well-matched risk groups (i.e., low- and high-risk) were created via X-tile software and 1-to-1 propensity score matching (PSM); surgical treatment modality was compared with nonsurgical one in each risk group. A more accurate and convenient dynamic prognostic nomogram based on age, marital status, T category, N category, M category, tumor size, and tumor differentiation was developed and validated, of which the predictive performance was superior to that of TNM staging system. For high-risk LALSCC selected by the dynamic nomogram, after 1-to-1 PSM, significantly improved OS was observed in patients with receiving surgical treatment compared to those receipt of nonsurgical management (restricted mean survival time at 36-month: 26.6 vs 22.7, p < 0.001; restricted mean survival time at 60-month: 36.7 vs 31.0, p=0.003). We establish and validate a more accurate and convenient dynamic prognostic nomogram for patients with LSCC, which may predict the benefit from surgical treatment modality for patients with high-risk LALSCC.

Sexual organ-sparing with hydrogel spacer injections for rectal cancer radiotherapy: a feasibility pilot study.

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate in two rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (nCRT) the implant feasibility and dosimetric benefit in sexual organ-sparing of an injectable, absorbable, radiopaque hydrogel spacer. Two rectal cancer patients (one male and one female) underwent hydrogel implant between rectum and vagina/prostate before nCRT and curative surgery. A CT scan was performed before and after injection and a comparative dosimetric study was performed testing a standard (45/50 Gy) and a dose escalated (46/55.2 Gy) schedule. In both patients, the spacer implant in the recto-prostatic or recto-vaginal space was feasible and well tolerated. For the male, the dosimetric benefit with spacer was minimal for sexual organs. For the female however, doses delivered to the vagina were significantly reduced with spacer with a mean reduction of more than 5 Gy for both regimens. For organ preservation protocols and selected sexually active female patients, use of hydrogel spacers can be considered to spare sexual organs from the high radiotherapy dose levels. For females with advanced rectal tumor, a spacer implant between the rectum and the vagina before nCRT is feasible and reduces doses delivered to the vagina.

Outcome comparison between radiochemotherapy and surgery in the management of locally advanced non-metastatic laryngeal cancer a single institution experience

he treatment of locally advanced non-metastatic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is very controversial. Total laryngectomy associated with lymph node dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy is considered the gold standard treatment. The functional impairment on voice and breathing that result from this approach called for discussion of preservation of this organ. Since the publication of the Veterans' Study in 1991 on laryngeal cancer and the confirmation by subsequent randomized trials of an equivalent survival, treatment strategies for advanced laryngeal carcinoma have shown significant changes in favour of an organ-sparing approach by chemoradiotherapy. Purpose: We aim to assess the outcome of locally advanced non-metastatic laryngeal cancer classified as (T3NxM0 -T4NxM0) by comparing the carcinological results and the survival at one and three years between two cohorts of patients, one treated by surgery and the other by organ preservation protocols. Between the two series, we will analyze the carcinological outcomes, local control, local and lymph node recurrence, distant metastases, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival, lymph Node-free survival, and metastatic evolution. Results: 106 patients were treated for locally advanced squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma of the ENT department and radiation Oncology department of Mohamed VI University hospital between January 2014 and December 2018; Sixty-three patients in surgery group I and forty-three patients in group II went on organ sparing approach by radiochemotherapy. The two groups were compared according to local tumor control, local recurrence, lymph node recurrence, and distant metastasis. Early deaths and patients who were lost to follow-up were excluded from this analysis. The average age was 61 years in the surgery group versus 60 years in the RCC. The male predominance was marked in both treatment groups, 102 were male (96.23%) and only 4 female (3.77 %.).88.7% were smokers with an average consumption of 26.4 package-years. Only 15% of our smoking patients reported a withdrawal period estimated at two months on average. Alcohol-smoking synergy was observed in 19% of cases. In the surgery group, 47 patients or 83.9% had local tumor control compared to 12 patients or 41.4% in the radio-chemotherapy group with a statistically significant difference p&lt;0.0001. Local recurrence was observed in 8 patients (14.5%) in the surgery group against 6 patients (46.2%) in the radio-chemotherapy cohort with a p= 0.02. We noted that there was a large number of missing data (30 patients) in the radio-chemotherapy group due to the large number of patients who were lost to follow-up, early deaths, and patients who did not progress well after treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of lymph node recurrence and metastatic progression. At 1 year, Overall survival was 87.9% of patients were alive (n=51 out of 58) in the surgery arm versus 60.6% (n=20 out of 33) in the radio-chemotherapy arm. At 3 years overall survival was 77.5% for surgery versus 48.4% for radiotherapy (p= 0.005).Lymph node free recurrence and metastatic free progression at 1 year was 94.5% in the surgery group compared with 84.6% for radio-chemotherapy. Survival at 3 years was 85.4% versus 53.8% respectively (p=0.05).In the chemoradiation therapy group, there were 30 missing data due to a large number of deaths and loss of the follow-up during the first year without any indication of the presence or absence of recurrence, compared to 8 missing data for the radio-chemotherapy group. Conclusion: The optimal treatment for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx is highly controversial. Total laryngectomy associated with cervical lymph node dissection remains the gold standard of treatment but organ-sparing protocols are as effective as surgical therapy. However, in our study, total laryngectomy plus lymph node dissection showed better survival outcomes in terms of locoregional control and significantly increased overall survival and recurrence-free survival. This makes surgery the treatment of choice in the management of locally advanced non-metastatic laryngeal cancer in our single institutional Moroccan setting. Possible reasons for these results may be poor patient selection, inadequate follow-up, incomplete treatment, and interrupted treatment sessions but also the long delay in consultation. Patients and professionals should be made aware of the small but significant disadvantage of the non-surgical therapy approach as part of the shared decision-making process when selecting treatment. Both surgery and radio-chemotherapy can be effective if the treatment indications are well directed. These indications depend on several many several parameters and should be considered at the multidisciplinary consultation meetings and adapted on a case-by-case basis.

Prognostic Significance of Oxidation Pathway Mutations in Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Simple SummaryOrgan preservation protocols have become first line therapy for the majority of advanced laryngeal cancers. Unfortunately, up to one third of patients will develop recurrent disease requiring salvage surgery. These tumors tend to display aggressive features when compared to primary disease. The aim of this study is to identify genomic alterations associated with poor prognosis in the recurrent setting to guide precision therapy and identify potential targetable pathways. Here we show that mutations in the oxidation pathway, specifically the KEAP1-NFR2 pathway, predict survival in a cohort of patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy.Organ preservation protocols are commonly used as first line therapy for advanced laryngeal cancer. Recurrence thereafter is associated with poor survival. The aim of this study is to identify genetic alterations associated with survival among patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer undergoing salvage laryngectomy. Sixty-two patients were sequenced using a targeted panel, of which twenty-two also underwent transcriptome sequencing. Alterations were grouped based on biologic pathways and survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate cox regression. Select pathways were evaluated against The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Patients with mutations in the Oxidation pathway had significantly worse five-year disease specific survival (1% vs. 76%, p = 0.02), while mutations in the HN-Immunity pathway were associated with improved five-year disease specific survival (100% vs. 62%, p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis showed mutations in the Oxidation pathway remained an independent predictor of disease specific survival (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1–9.2, p = 0.03). Transcriptome analysis of recurrent tumors demonstrated that alterations in the Oxidation pathway were associated a positive Ragnum hypoxia signature score, consistent with enhanced pathway activity. Further, TCGA analyses demonstrated the prognostic value of oxidation pathway alterations in previously untreated disease. Alterations in the Oxidation pathway are associated with survival among patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer. These prognostic genetic biomarkers may inform precision medicine protocols and identify putatively targetable pathways to improve survival in this cohort.

Colgajo de pectoral mayor para reconstrucción de defectos faríngeos. Descripción de un caso

Introducción: La fístula faringocutánea post-laringectomía total (LT) continúa siendo una complicación frecuente luego de esta intervención especialmente tras tratamiento radioterápico. Cuando fracasan las medidas conservadoras, es necesario recurrir a cirugía reconstructiva. En nuestro centro se utiliza el colgajo miocutáneo de pectoral mayor (CMPM), que asegura un flujo sanguíneo adecuado para el tratamiento fístulas post-irradiación. Descripción: Presentamos un paciente con una fístula faringocutánea tras LT que requirió una amplia reconstrucción mediante CMPM asimismo discutiremos el importante papel que juega el tratamiento con oxígeno hiperbárico en el manejo de las consecuencias post-radioterapia. Conclusión: En la era de la reconstrucción microvascular, el PMMC puede ser utilizado para la reconstrucción de grandes defectos de cabeza y cuello, consiguiendo una adecuada cobertura tras protocolos de preservación de órgano o pacientes con historia de enfermedad vascular.

Urothelial carcinoma in situ response to cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or lack thereof: Impact on patient selection for organ preservation in muscle-invasive disease?

IntroductionNeoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (NACT) followed by radical cystectomy improves urothelial bladder cancer survival [1]. Complete pathological response on cystectomy pathology (pT0N0) is associated with the best survival outcomes [2]. Rates of complete response have increased with improved adoption of NACT calling into question the need for radical cystectomy or perhaps use of organ preservation protocols. In patients with papillary bladder tumors, carcinoma in situ (CIS) has been shown to influence progression and develop into invasive urothelial carcinoma [3]. Furthermore, in patients with invasive urothelial carcinoma, concurrent CIS has been reported in roughly 45% to 65% of cases [4]. Thus, we sought to determine the response rate of CIS to NACT to determine if the presence of CIS should factor into excluding patients from organ preservation. MethodsA review of our prospectively maintained bladder cancer database was performed among patients undergoing preoperative cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by cystectomy between 2007 and 2017. Presence of CIS before and after radical cystectomy was assessed. Random bladder biopsies or transurethral resection (TUR) with enhanced imaging for CIS (Cysview) were not routinely utilized in the preoperative setting. ResultsOne-hundred eighty-three patients were identified that underwent preoperative cisplatin chemotherapy. A total of 96 (52.4%) unique patients had documented CIS in the entire cohort. Forty-eight (50%) patients were noted to have CIS on TUR. Of these 48 patients, 26 (54.1%) were noted to have residual CIS on final pathology. An additional 48 patients were found to have CIS on final pathology that was not diagnosed on TUR, making a total of 74 (77.1%) patients with CIS refractory to NACT on cystectomy pathology. ConclusionsCIS seems to respond poorly to cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. If organ preservation protocols are considered, a thorough assessment for CIS with enhanced photodynamic detection cystoscopy or random bladder biopsies should be considered. Residual cisplatin-refractory disease, even if noninvasive CIS, may lead to poor outcomes. Future molecular classifiers may assist in disease signatures to help guide treatment protocols.

Preservación de órgano en pacientes con tumores avanzados de laringe. Resultados de la quimioterapia de inducción versus quimio-radioterapia en la práctica clínica real

Introduction and objectivesA high percentage of patients with locally advanced larynx carcinomas are candidates for inclusion in organ preservation protocols. The objective of this study is to compare the results of two schemes of preservation, induction chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy, in patients with locally advanced larynx carcinomas in the context of actual clinical practice. MethodsOur retrospective study included 157 patients with locally advanced tumours of the larynx (T3-T4) treated with induction chemotherapy (n = 121) or chemoradiotherapy (n = 36). ResultsFrom 121 patients who began treatment with induction chemotherapy, 6 died due to toxicity, 37 were treated with surgery, and 78 completed the preservation scheme; 36 patients received treatment with chemoradiotherapy. There were no significant differences in 5-year disease-specific survival between both treatments: 68.9% in induction chemotherapy versus 75.7% in chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.259). In 45.9% of patients the laryngeal function was preserved. Patients treated with chemoradiotherapy had a tendency to have better 5-year laryngeal dysfunction-free survival than patients treated with induction chemotherapy (55.6% versus 44.8%, p = 0.079). ConclusionPatients included in a protocol of organ preservation achieved a 5-year laryngeal dysfunction-free survival of 45.9%. There were no significant differences in disease-specific survival among patients treated with induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Prognostic Significance of Cell Differentiation and Immune Pathway Mutations in Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Organ preservation protocols are commonly used as first line therapy for advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Disease free survival after radiation or chemoradiation ranges from 30-60% and recurrent tumors often display an aggressive phenotype resulting in poor patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to identify genetic alterations associated with overall and disease specific survival in patients with recurrent laryngeal SCC undergoing salvage laryngectomy.

Oncologic and Functional Outcomes After Primary and Salvage Laryngopharyngoesophagectomy With Gastric Pull-Up Reconstruction for Locally Advanced Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/Purpose: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) are generally diagnosed in an advanced disease stage. A total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric pull-up reconstruction is a time tested surgical treatment in our centre for resectable failures or recurrences after primary treatment with organ preservation protocols (radiotherapy or chemoradiation), or as a primary surgical treatment for very advanced hypopharyngeal tumors. We present the results of our approach in terms of success rate, postoperative complications and functional and oncologic outcomes.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients with hypopharyngeal SCC, who underwent laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric pull-up reconstruction during the period 1989–2015.Results: The cohort included 60 patients. Mean follow-up was 32 months. Stage III and stage IV disease was present in 35 and 60% of patients, respectively. Successful reconstruction by intended gastric transposition was possible in 98.3% of cases. The in-hospital mortality rate was 8.3%. Two-year and five-year actuarial overall survival were 39.5 and 21.1%, respectively. Two-year and five-year actuarial disease specific survival were 58.5 and 46.6%, respectively. Two-year and five-year actuarial locoregional recurrence free survival were both 49.5%. A significantly lower locoregional recurrence free survival was observed in patients with pN+ disease compared to pN0 (Log rank, p <0.05). Complete oral intake was achieved in 82.7% of patients. Speech rehabilitation by means of Provox® puncture or electrolarynx was achieved in 66% of patients.Discussion/Conclusion: Total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric pull-up reconstruction for advanced stage hypopharyngeal SCC combines relatively good oncologic and functional outcomes in a prognostically unfavorable patient group.

A Multidisciplinary Team Guided Approach to the Management of cT3 Laryngeal Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis of 104 Cases.

The optimal treatment for T3 laryngeal carcinoma (LC) is still a matter of debate. Different therapeutic options are available: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHLs), total laryngectomy (TL), and organ preservation protocols (radiation therapy (RT) or chemo-radiation (CRT)). This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate oncologic outcomes of 104 T3 LCs treated by surgery or non-surgical approaches from January 2011 to December 2016 at a single academic tertiary referral center. Each case was evaluated by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) devoted to the management of head and neck cancers. We divided the cohort into two subgroups: Group A, surgical treatment (TLM, OPHLs, TL) and Group B, non-surgical treatment (RT, CRT). For the entire cohort, two- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 83% and 56%, respectively. The two- and five-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 75% and 65%, and disease-specific survival rates were 93% and 70%, respectively. The N category was a significant independent prognosticator for OS (p = 0.02), whereas Group B was significantly and independently associated with DFS (HR 4.10, p = 0.006). Analyzing laryngo-esophageal dysfunction-free survival as an outcome, it was found that this was significantly lower in higher N categories (p = 0.04) and in cases that underwent non-surgical treatments (p = 0.002). Optimization of oncologic outcomes in T3 LCs may be obtained only by a comprehensive MDT approach, considering that different treatment options have heterogenous toxicity profiles and indications.