Reconstructive surgery following cancer resection of the superior or lateral wall of the mesopharynx

Abstract

An important goal of reconstructive surgery in patients with mesopharyngeal cancer is to restore oropharyngeal function after cancer ablation. Resection of the lateral or superior wall of the mesopharynx is closely related to velopharyngeal and swallowing dysfunction.
In this report, 109 cases of mesopharyngeal reconstruction after cancer resection were evaluated. Of these, ten patients developed postoperative dysphagia. The risk factors associated with functional impairment were high age, wider resection of the tongue base and surgical intervention in the mandible.
We believe that the surgical approach including cricopharyngeal myotomy, laryngeal suspension, and epigllotopexy is important for patients at high risk for some kind of swallowing disturbance.