title: Combined surgery and radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx remains a highly lethal disease. This article documents our experience with 132 patients undergoing surgical management of squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, of whom 80% received postoperative radiation therapy. Local-regional control was obtained in 61% of the patients. Five-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 30% and 41%, respectively. Prognosis was better in patients with limited disease: local disease permitting larynx-sparing surgery, N0/N1 clinical neck, and stage I/II/III disease. Cancer of the hypopharynx remains an aggressive entity associated with poor prognosis. Novel strategies stressing improved local-regional control with prevention of distant metastasis are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zelefsky
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate