Pharyngotomy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: functional and oncological aspects

Background: Head and Neck Surgery constantly has to oppose non-invasive organ preservation methods and therefore should be evaluated especially with regard to clinical and functional outcome. We will discuss the role of pharyngotomy in the treatment of HNSCC. Methods: Seventy-three patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity, oro-/hypopharynx and supraglottis underwent lateral/median pharyngotomy. Functional and oncological parameters were retrospectively assessed and set into clinical context. Results: The 5-year recurrence-free-interval (RFI) was significantly higher with surgery and adjuvant radio(chemo) therapy (80%; mean RFI: 92 months) when compared to conservative treatment (68%; mean RFI: 68 months). The 5-year overall-survival (OS) after surgery and conservative treatment was 71% and 54%, respectively. Compared to other surgical techniques (mean RFI: 82 months), pharyngotomy demonstrated a significant higher 5-year RFI (mean RFI: 89 months). Conclusions: Pharyngotomy achieves good exposure and clear resection margins that result in a notably good oncological outcome with a minimum of functional loss. In particular, among UICC IV oropharyngeal HNSCC, pharyngotomy is superior in OS and RFI to conservative methods.