Nasopharyngectomy: does the approach to the nasopharynx influence survival?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the approach used to the nasopharynx to perform a salvage nasopharyngectomy for recurrent or residual nasopharyngeal carcinoma influences survival.


METHODS
A retrospective case series.


METHODS
Eighty patients underwent a nasopharyngectomy via a transpalatal, maxillary swing, or midfacial degloving approach. Local progression-free, locoregional progression-free, and overall survival rates were calculated for each approach.


RESULTS
For the whole group (N = 80), there were no significant differences in the survival rates between the three approaches. For the subgroup of patients with recurrent T1 and T2 tumors (n = 68), the local progression-free and locoregional progression-free survival rates were significantly better when a maxillary swing approach was used than when a midfacial degloving approach was used.


CONCLUSIONS
The maxillary swing approach is associated with significantly better survival rates than the midfacial degloving approach when used to perform a salvage nasopharyngectomy for residual or recurrent T1 and T2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Vlantis
Alexander C
AC
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China. lexvlantis@cuhk.edu.hk
Yu
Brian K H
BK
Kam
Michael K M
MK
Hung
Terry
T
Lo
Phoebe S Y
PS
King
Ann D
AD
Tong
Michael C F
MC
van Hasselt
C Andrew
CA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate