Salvage surgery of hypopharyngeal carcinoma with local recurrence after chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

This study reviewed the results of salvage surgery in patients with local recurrence of hypopharyngeal carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy. Between 1989 and 2008, 74 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with chemoradiotherapy. Ten of these patients underwent salvage surgery, and we analyzed postoperative complications and prognosis. Postoperative complications were found in 9 cases (90%). The survival rate after salvage surgery was 30%. These results suggest that accurate diagnosis of recurrence at an early stage is important for improving the outcome of salvage surgery.
The indication as well as operative risks of salvage surgery should be carefully determined.