Abstract
This study presents the results of salvage surgery for patients with local recurrence of hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radical radiotherapy. Between 1986 and 2002, 85 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with radical radiotherapy. Eight of these patients (Stage I in 3 patients, Stage II in 1 patient, Stage IV in 4 patients) underwent total laryngopharyngectomy as salvage surgery. Four patients (Stage I in 2 patients, Stage II in one patient, Stage IV in 1 patient) were successfully salvaged with no recurrence. Two patients died of distant metastases with local-regional control, and 2 patients died with local recurrence after salvage surgery. Five patients had reconstruction of the pharynx with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and one patient had reconstruction with D-P flap. A free jejunal graft was performed in 2 patients. All cases except one patient reconstructed with a free jejunal flap, suffered from pharyngocutaneous fistula. Salvage surgery for local recurrence of hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radical radiotherapy should be selected with distinct determination and informed consent because of the high rate of surgical complications and possibility of local or distant failure.
