Abstract
In our series of treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma, 7 patients died of retropharyngeal metastasis. Resection of the retropharyngeal node was performed in 56 patients of hypopharyngeal carcinoma 1988 through 1995. The subf ascial plane of the middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle was entered at the greater horn of the hyoid bone. The retropharyngeal nodes located in front of the capitis longus muscle were removed between the above fascia and internal carotid artery. Of these patients, the preoperative diagnosis for nodal involvement was available only in 2 patients. The postoperative histopathological study revealed nodal involvement in 12 patients. As far the relationship to the preoperative N classification of these patients, two of 11 were for N0, 2 of 8 for N1, 1 of 4 for N2a, 3 of 22 for N2b, and 4 of 8 for N2c. This result revealed no corelation between the incidence of the involvement of the retropharyngeal node and preoperative N classification. Finaly in coclusion, the resection of the bilateral retropharyngeal node is highly recommended at the surgery of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.
