Research Article: Circumferential laryngopharyngectomy with free jejunal transfer for hypopharyngeal cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis of outcomes and complications
Abstract:
Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and characterized by poor prognosis. While primary (chemo)radiotherapy is frequently preferred for early and intermediate stage disease, total laryngopharyngectomy (TLP) remains the gold standard for the primary treatment of locally advanced tumors and for salvage treatment of residual and recurrent HSCC. However, reconstruction of a circumferential hypopharyngeal defect is challenging. This retrospective cohort analysis evaluates the oncological and functional outcomes of TLP with free jejunal transfer (FJT).
22 patients with histopathologically confirmed HSCC requiring TLP with FJT were included. Data on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and functional and oncological outcomes were analyzed with overall survival (OS) as primary outcome.
Overall, 22 patients were included (18.2% female, mean age 65.6 years). Mean follow-up time was 3.9 years. Primary and salvage TLP was performed in 8 (36.4%) and 14 (63.6%) patients respectively. All primary tumors were stage IV. In the salvage group, patients had disease stage II ( n =?1, 7.1%), III ( n =?5, 35.7%) and IV ( n =?8, 57.1%). Successful FJT was achieved in 95.5% of patients with only 1 FJT failure (4.5%). Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) formation was the most common complication and was observed in 6 patients (27.3%); 2 were managed conservatively and 4 required surgical intervention. No in-hospital deaths were encountered. Two- and five-year OS rates were 52.3% and 26.9%, respectively. Disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 54.7% and 42.8% respectively. Complete oral intake and voice rehabilitation were achieved in 68.2% and 52.3% of patients respectively.
FJT deserves its place in the reconstructive armamentarium following TLP. Oncological outcomes are good and functional outcomes are acceptable but there is room for improvement.
Introduction:
Squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx (HSCC) is an aggressive malignancy that represents 3%–5% of all head and neck cancers. Due to the often advanced stage at diagnosis and its tendency for distant metastatic spread, HSCC is characterized by a poor prognosis, with 5-year survival rates of less than 50% ( 1 – 3 ). Over the decades, there has been a shift in the primary treatment of HSCC from radical surgery to organ-preserving approaches such as radiotherapy (RT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, in…
Read more