title: [Therapy of hypopharyngeal cancer. Part IV: Long-term results of transoral laser microsurgery of hypopharyngeal cancer].
abstract: Between 1979 and 1986, 74 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinomas were operated using transoral laser microsurgery by the first author. 32 of the patients were subdivided into 5 subgroups and considered separately because of pretreatment for head and neck tumors, simultaneous multiple tumors etc. (excluding criterias). Survival times were not significantly prolonged and lasted 1-27 months (median, 11 months), but the quality of life was improved due to preservation or restoration of natural laryngopharyngeal functions. Forty-two patients were operated with curative intention. This group primarily underwent transoral laser microsurgery, aiming at complete locoregional tumor resection with function preservation (pT1, 5; pT2, 31; pT3, 4; pT4, 2). In 29 patients 31 necks were operated, mostly as a regionally limited functional neck dissection (or "selective" neck dissection). In 90% of the cases neck metastases (pN+) were found, mostly in levels II and III; pN1, 6; pN2a, 1; pN2b, 18; pN2c, 1. Altogether, stages III and IV were found in 71.4% of the patients. A temporary tracheotomy was required in four patients. There was no secondary laryngectomy, even though it was indicated in one case. Post-treatment oncological followup (median observation time, 104 months) demonstrated loco-regional recurrences (n = 1), late or recurrent metastases (n = 4), persisting metastases in the neck with cerebral metastasis (n = 1), distant metastases (n = 4), secondary tumors (n = 9, 5 of which occurred in the head and neck). Through March 1993, 24 patients (57%) have died. Causes were TNM-related (7), second primary tumor with or without distant metastases (8) and intercurrent disease with no evidence of disease (9). Within 5 years 17% of the patients died of TNM-related tumors, 9.5% due to a second primary with or without distant metastases, as well as 9.5% with intercurrent disease. The 5-year overall survival rate was 64% and was 83% (adjusted survival rate) if only TNM-related deaths were considered.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Göttingen.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stenglein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fietkau
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sauerbrei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D015996:Survival Rate