[Hypopharyngeal cancer: analysis of the evolution and treatment results].
OBJECTIVE
Hypopharyngeal carcinoma is an aggressive malignancy usually diagnosed at a late state, thereby resulting in overall poor prognosis and low survival rates for these patients. The purpose of this study is to present the progress and outcomes of patients treated for hypopharyngeal carcinoma at our department.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 89 patients who had been diagnosed with hypopharygeal carcinoma between 1980 and 2005. Most of the tumours were advanced (T3 and T4) and 73 % showed palpable regional metastases at presentation.


RESULTS
The five-year survival rate was 40.7 %. The overall incidence of distant metastases and subsequent primary neoplasms was 7.5 % and 23.5 %, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypopharyngeal cancer is still the one with the worst prognosis in the head and neck area. The poor survival rate seems to be related primarily to advanced stage disease at presentation and particularly to the status of cervical lymph-node metastases.
Carrasco Llatas
Marina
M
Servicio Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Dr. Peset, Valencia, España. fernandoymarina@ono.com
López Mollá
Celia
C
Balaguer García
Ramón
R
Ferrer Ramírez
María José
MJ
Guallart Doménech
Fernando
F
Estellés Ferriol
José Enrique
JE
Fernández Martínez
Sergio
S
Dalmau Galofre
José
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate