title: [Partial pharyngolaryngectomies for treatment of pharyngolaryngeal cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We undertook this study to evaluate the results obtained with conservation therapy of the larynx in patients with laryngopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with stages I and II epidermoid cancer of the larynx and pharynx were included. All patients were evaluated endoscopically, functionally, and with cervical tomography. Results of the procedures were evaluated on the basis of oncological control and laryngeal function (voice, swallowing and ventilation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 41 male patients with a median age of 55 years. In 32 patients, surgery was the initial treatment and in nine patients as rescue treatment after radiotherapy. In 58.5% the location was glottic, in 22% supraglottic, in 12% glotto-supraglottic and in 7% vallecular and hypopharynx. Subtotal laryngectomy was performed with cricohyoidepiglottopexy in 18 patients, frontolateral in 11, supraglottic in 5, subglottic-epiglottectomy in 3, hemipharyngolaryngectomy in 3, and in one hemiglottectomy. The time until decannulation and removal of nasogastric catheter depended on the type of surgery. One patient (2%) had to be subjected to a rescue laryngectomy due to constant aspiration. This patient demonstrated residual tumor in the sample. Nine patients had some type of complication, the most frequent being wound infection (7.3%). One patient died postoperatively due to sepsis (2.4%), and another patient died due to systemic causes 4 months after the intervention. Median follow-up time is 25 months and no patient has presented tumor recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Voice conservation surgery is an alternative to mutilation of the larynx in patients with locally advanced neoplasms of the larynx with a high risk of recurrence if treated with radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Tumores de Cabeza y Cuello, Hospital de Oncología, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Av. Cuauhtémoc 330, Col. Doctores, México, D.F., Mexico. gal61@prodigy.net.mx
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gallegos-Hernández
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minauro-Muñoz
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arias-Ceballos
authors.forename: Juan Martín
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hernández-San
authors.forename: Rutilio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flores-Díaz
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Resendiz-Colosia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000601:surgery*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010611:Pharyngectomy / Q000379:methods*