Alternative treatment option for hypopharyngeal cancer: clinical outcomes after conservative laryngeal surgery with partial pharyngectomy

Conclusion: The oncological and functional outcomes of hypopharyngeal cancer after conservative laryngeal surgery are fairly acceptable, making this a reasonable initial treatment option for selected patients. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with conservative laryngeal surgery with partial pharyngectomy. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with hypopharyngeal SCC who underwent laryngeal preservation surgery were enrolled. The tumors were classified as cT1 in 5 (8.6%) patients, cT2 in 35 (60.3%), cT3 in 14 (24.1%), and cT4a in 4 (6.9%) patients. Results: Surgical outcomes: 5-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were 78% and 77.6%. Recurrent disease developed in 13 patients (22.4%). Multivariate analysis revealed that level VI metastasis confirmed by histopathological analysis, close (<5 mm) histologic margin, advanced N stage, and posterior pharyngeal wall tumor were independent factors associated with poor disease-specific survival. Functional outcomes: 50 patients (86.2%) could obtain all their nutritional needs orally. Eight patients needed the assistance of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube. Oral re-alimentation was achieved within a mean of 26.1 days after surgery. Fifty-one patients (87.9%) could be decannulated after a mean of 43.8 days postoperatively.