title: Extended lateral pharyngotomy for selected squamous cell carcinomas of the lateral tongue base.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a retrospective review of an inception cohort of 26 patients with an isolated, previously untreated, moderately to well-differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the lateral tongue base, consecutively managed with an extended lateral pharyngotomy approach at a single tertiary referral care center, the authors review the key surgical points, highlight the potential technical pitfalls, and document the complications and long-term functional and oncological outcomes in terms of survival and local control.
  
  
  METHODS
  The adjunctive measures included induction chemotherapy, ipsilateral neck dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy, used in 96.1%, 96.1%, and 38.5% of patients, respectively. All patients but 2 were followed for at least 5 years or until death (maximum, 158 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The significant postoperative complications included pharyngocutaneous fistula in 3 patients (11.5%) and hemorrhage requiring reoperation, partial flap necrosis, and pneumonia from aspiration in 1 patient (3.8%) each. In univariate analysis, no significant statistical relationship was noted between the significant postoperative complications noted and the variables under analysis. Overall, successful oral alimentation was achieved in 100% of patients by the first postoperative month without gastrostomy, tracheotomy, or completion total laryngectomy. There were no intraoperative or perioperative deaths. The main causes of death were metachronous second primary tumor, intercurrent disease, and distant metastasis, resulting in 84.6%, 64%, and 46.9% 1-, 3-, and 5-year Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival estimates, respectively. Two patients (7.6%) had local recurrence, resulting in 100%, 86.7%, and 86.7% 1-, 3-, and 5-year Kaplan-Meier actuarial local control estimates, respectively. As a function of T stage, the 3- and 5-year actuarial local control estimates were 100%, 87.5%, and 90.9% in patients with tumors classified as T1, T2, and T3-T4a, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Such results suggest that extended lateral pharyngotomy should be integrated among the various conservative treatment options available to patients with selected carcinomas of the lateral tongue base.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Rend Descartes-Paris V, HEGP, APHP, 75015 Paris, France.
authors: Ollivier
authors: O
authors: Laccourreye
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Seccia
authors: Madeleine
authors: M
authors: Ménard
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Garcia
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Vacher
authors: F Christopher
authors: FC
authors: Holsinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome