Oncological results of salvage treatment in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma

Introduction and objective: The aim of this study is to analyse the variables related to the feasibility of salvage surgery with radical intention in patients with a local recurrence of hypopharyngeal carcinoma, and to evaluate the oncological performance of this type of surgery. Methods: Retrospective study of 96 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma with local tumour recurrence Result: Only 27 patients (28.1%) were considered for surgical salvage treatment. The variables related to feasibility of salvage surgery were non-surgical initial treatment of the tumour and a disease-free interval greater than 6 months. All 69 patients non-candidates for salvage surgery died as a result of tumour progression in a period of less than 2.5 years. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate for the patients treated with salvage surgery was 39.5%. The only variable significantly related to disease-specific survival was the status of the resection margins. Patients with extensive tumour recurrence (rT3-T4) or with simultaneous nodal involvement had a lower survival rate, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Only 28% of the patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma with local recurrence of the tumour were eligible for salvage surgery with radical intention. The patients treated with salvage surgery had a 5-year disease-specific survival of 39.5%. (c) 2020 Sociedad Espanola de Otorrinolaringologia y Cirugia de Cabeza y Cuello. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.