Treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma: analysis of nationwide study in the Netherlands over a 10-year period.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse different treatment strategies and treatment results of hypopharyngeal carcinoma in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Eight head and neck centres in the Netherlands.


METHODS
A total of 893 patients were treated between 1985 and 1994. Patients were mostly treated with radiotherapy alone, combined surgery and radiotherapy and surgery alone.


RESULTS
The 5-year survival for the whole group was 26%. The 5-year survival for patients treated with curative intention was 32% and treated with palliative intention was 5%. The 5-year disease-free survival after radiotherapy alone was 37%, after surgery alone 41% and after combined therapy 47%. The role of chemotherapy could not be investigated because of a small number of patients treated with chemotherapy in this period.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined therapy with surgery and radiotherapy has a better survival for patients with a hypopharyngeal carcinoma in comparison with radiotherapy alone. The N-stage is more important for the prognosis than the T-stage.
Sewnaik
A
A
Erasmus Medisch Centrum, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.sewnaik@erasmusms.nl
Hoorweg
J J
JJ
Knegt
P P
PP
Wieringa
M H
MH
van der Beek
J M H
JM
Kerrebijn
J D F
JD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate