Abstract
In the fifth edition of the TNM classification T3 category of hypopharyngeal cancer has cha nged.
The tumor that measures more than 4cm in greatest dimension, or with fixation of the hemlilarynx has been classified as T3. T2 that measured more than 4cm in the fourth edition has been changed to T3 in the fifth edition.
The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is a difference of local progress of disease between T3 with laryngeal fixation (T3-LF) and T3 that measures more than 4cm in greatest dimension (T3-GD)
Eighty-nine patients with hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent surgery between 1982 and 1998 were examined retrospectively to select T3-GD from operative specimens and compare the difference between T3-LF and T3-GD. Among 89 patients, there were 31 cases of T3-LF and 22 cases of T3-GD. In 31 cases of T3-LF, there were 22 pirformis sinus cancer (PSC) and 9 postcricoid cancers (PCC). The average age was 63 years. There were 27 males and 4 females. In 22 cases of T3-GD, there were 8 PSC and 14 PCC. The average age was 58 years. There were 12 males and 10 females. In the former group, PSC was dominant and in the latter one PCC was dominant. 5-year cumulative survival rates of T3-LF and T3-GD were 30.4% and 50.4% respectively. T3-GD tended toward longer survival compared with T3-LF, but there was no statistical difference between them. It is not irrational to add T3-GD to T3-LF in the T3 classification of hypopharyngeal cancer.
