A study of the pharynx after laryngectomy.
The hypopharyngeal anatomy of 20 post-laryngectomy patients was studied both with endoscopy and radiological contrast medium examination. The pharynx was found to be essentially a featureless tube with mucosal rugosities running along its axis. No correlation was found between the endoscopic and radiological appearance of the pseudoepiglottis, or between its presence and post-operative complications or the acquisition of oesophageal speech. A low incidence of post-operative dysphagia was noted. The RPS ratio for normal patients was calculated.
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal