title: Preservation of the larynx after resection of a carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx: versatility of a free flap patch graft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preservation of the larynx after resection of a pharyngeal tumor remains a challenging problem for the head and neck surgeon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with T1 or T2 carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx (UICC 1987), who were treated surgically between 1984 and 1994, were studied. All patients underwent surgical resection of the tumor with laryngeal preservation and immediate reconstruction with free flap transfer. A free forearm flap was transferred in four patients and a free jejunal patch graft, in five patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was one flap loss, due to venous thrombosis. Successful larynx preservation was achieved in the remaining eight patients (89%). Although there was one local control failure, three patients remained free of disease for more than 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laryngeal preservation surgery using a free flap patch graft has proven very beneficial in selected cases with a carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harii
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebihara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugasawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome