1983 Volume 34 Issue 5 Pages 392-398
Twenty-three cases of hypopharyngeal cancer were operated and we had the following results.
1. Pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and neck dissection are the fundamental surgical modality to the disease. It may be better to combine with preoperative irradiation and chemotherapy, for example, FAR therapy.
2. The indications of partial resection should not be expanded.
3. The microscopic observation of serial section of resected specimens showed that the thyroid gland and the tumor were separated only by the capsule. Even in the pyriform sinus type, at least the thyroid gland of affected side must be removed. In the postcricoid type, circular infiltration and extraluminal spread of tumor were often observed. Invasion into the thyroid gland was also seen in some cases, which indicates that the total thyroidectomy is necessary.
4. Pathologically positive lymph nodes were seen in 4 out of 13 cases that had no pal panle neck node prior to surgery. The neck dissection of affected side is necessary.
5. The prognosis of the hypopharyngeal cancer was greatly influenced by the cervical node metastasis. In pN0 group, only 2 cases died of the disease out of 14 cases . While in pN (+) group, only 4 out of 15 were alive with no evidence of tumor and 1 with lung metastasis.
6. It was difficult to control the disease who had more than 2 nodal metastases.
