OBJECTIVETo study the surgical technique and results of laryngeal function preservation in treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHODSA retrospective review of 305 patients with malignant neoplasms of the hypopharynx (279 males, 26 females, age ranging from 14 to 77 years) was performed from 1978 to 1996. In the 305 patients (stage I, n = 6; stage II, n = 12; stage III, n = 82; stage IV, n = 205), the sites of origin were pyriform sinus (n = 234), postcricoid (n = 21), posterior pharyngeal wall (n = 35) and superior hypopharynx (n = 15). Of the 305 patients, 206 (67.54%, stage I, n = 6; stage II, n = 12; stage III, n = 65; stage IV, n = 123) were surgically treated with laryngeal function preserved and 99 (32.46%, stage III, n = 17; stage IV, n = 82) had no laryngeal function preserved. All had 55-75 Gy radiotherapy according to their need.

RESULTSA total of 206 patients (67.54%) were surgically treated with laryngeal function preserved, totally (voice, respiration and deglutition) in 139 (67.5%) and partially (voice and deglutition) in 67 (32.5%). 99 patients (32.46%) had no laryngeal function preserved. The overall 5-year survival rate of the 305 patients was 44.8%, which segregated to 83% (stage I), 71% (stage II), 58% (stage III), and 36% (stage IV). The 5-year survival of the laryngeal function preserved group was 48% (n = 66), the rate of complications 28% (n = 58) and the rate of residual tumor 5.8% (n = 12), compared with the no laryngeal function preserved group 37% (n = 20), 31.3% (n = 31), and 6% (n = 6) (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOnly a small proportion of patients (31/305, 10%) with hypopharyngeal carcinoma who require total laryngectomy and preservation of the laryngeal function is feasible for eradication of tumor and preservation of laryngeal function.