Reconstruction of the larynx and aryepiglottic fold using a free radial forearm tendocutaneous flap after partial laryngopharyngectomy: a case report

The patient was a 62-year-old man with chief complaints of pharyngeal pain and dysphagia. He was diagnosed with pyriform sinus poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma T3N0M0 (Stage II) and underwent partial laryngopharyngectomy, lymphadenectomy in the right neck, tracheostomy, and reconstruction of the larynx and aryepiglottic fold with a free radial forearm flap and the associated vascularized palmaris longus tendon. No particular problems occurred after surgery, and swallowing and articulation functions were successfully recovered. A free jejunum transfer is the first choice for reconstruction of a defect after partial hypopharyngectomy, but reconstruction of the supracricoid complex structure of the larynx using a free jejunum transfer after partial laryngopharyngectomy may lead to aspiration of intestinal fluids. In this case, we performed functional reconstruction of the laryngopharyngeal defect using a free radial forearm flap including a vascularized tendon of the palmaris longus, and satisfactory postoperative function was achieved. We believe that the key to successful functional recovery after partial laryngopharyngectomy is establishment of the three-dimensional complex structure of the arytenoid and aryepiglottic fold.     

Resection of selected invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus by means of the lateral pharyngotomy approach: the partial lateral pharyngectomy

BACKGROUND: Although the lateral pharyngotomy is a well-known surgical procedure, to our knowledge, no published reports have described the results achieved with a lateral pharyngectomy approach in patients with isolated and previously untreated selected invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the lateral wall of the pyriform sinus. METHODS: The medical files and operative charts of 30 patients with an isolated, and previously untreated, squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus, treated for cure by lateral partial pharyngectomy and primary closure, as well as postoperative radiotherapy (n = 22), and preoperative chemotherapy (n = 8), were retrospectively studied. Sixteen tumors were classified as T1 and 14 as T2. All patients but one were followed until death. RESULTS: Three patients (9%) died in the immediate postoperative period (two from medical complications and one from a surgery-related complication). Overall, 29 patients died, resulting in a 77.7%, 40%, 23.3%, and 15% 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival estimate, respectively. Only one patient had a serious postoperative complication develop. All patients were decannulated. No patients required a gastrostomy and/or completion total laryngectomy for functional reasons. Local recurrence occurred in four patients (13%). The 3-and 5-year Kaplan-Meier actuarial local control estimates were 88.5% and 79.6%, respectively. The use of a platin-based induction chemotherapy (p = .05) regimen was the only variable that was significantly statistically related to local recurrence. Overall, a 93.3% laryngeal preservation rate was achieved. CONCLUSION: Partial pharyngectomy by means of the lateral pharyngotomy combined with postoperative radiation therapy is an efficient and function-sparing approach to control selected invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the lateral wall of the pyriform sinus.     

The need for elective irradiation of occult lymphatic metastases from cancers of the larynx and pyriform sinus

The incidence of palpable and occult cancer and the absence of cancer in lymph nodes were determined for individual sites in the larynx and pharynx of 540 patients who underwent neck dissection. The incidence of palpable cancer in lymph nodes was lowest for cancers of the central supraglottis and transglottis (32-41%), intermediate for cancers of the marginal supraglottis and glossoepiglottis (48-57%), and highest for cancers of the pyriform sinus (69%). The incidence of occult cancer in lymph nodes for individual sites in the larynx and pharynx was determined by pathologic study of neck dissection specimens from 253 patients without palpable lymph nodes (NO neck). The incidence of occult lymphatic metastases in the NO neck and the need for elective neck irradiation were least for cancers of the transglottis and central supraglottis (14-16%), intermediate for cancers of the glossoepiglottis and the marginal supraglottis (20-38%), and greatest for cancers of the pyriform sinus (47%). The risk of nodal recurrence increased from 8% for those without cancer in lymph nodes to 38% for those with occult or palpable cancer in lymph nodes. A policy of observing the NO neck in patients with a low incidence of occult lymphatic metastases and a low risk of neck recurrence to avoid the unnecessary irradiation of many to benefit a few is discussed.     

Contralateral cervical lymph node metastases in pyriform sinus carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We designed a retrospective study to evaluate the incidence of contralateral neck metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Sixty-three patients with strictly unilateral squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus who underwent bilateral neck dissection at the time of primary surgery were included in this study. The medical records of all patients were reviewed. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed, considering some clinical and histologic parameters of T stage and N stage in relation to contralateral neck metastases. RESULTS: Contralateral neck metastases were histopathologically confirmed in more than 20% of the cases examined (13 out of 63 patients), of whom 3 were clinically staged as N2c, 2 N2b, 5 N2a, 2 N1 and 1 N0. The percentage of occult contralateral neck metastases was 77% (10/13 cases). Poorly differentiated tumors (P= .02) and the involvement of the lateral wall (P= .036) showed a statistically significant correlation with stage pN2c. Also T size and ipsilateral N stage were associated with the presence of contralateral neck metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that elective bilateral neck dissection is recommended in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus. EBM rating: C-4.     

Concomitant radiation therapy and targeted cisplatin chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced pyriform sinus carcinoma: disease control and preservation of organ function.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus is an unfavorable disease which frequently presents in advanced stages. Despite aggressive "standard treatment" involving debilitating surgery and postoperative radiation therapy treatments, the survival and functional outcome for pyriform sinus carcinoma remains poor. Hence, we reviewed our experience in the management of advanced pyriform sinus carcinoma using "organ preservation" chemoradiation therapy. METHODS: Twenty-five patients diagnosed with stage III/IV pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma treated with supradose, intra-arterial targeted cisplatin, and concomitant radiotherapy were analyzed for response rates, survival, pattern of failure, and function of the preserved organs. Our protocol consisted of weekly intra-arterial infusions of cisplatin at 150 mg/m(2) x 4 and concurrent radiation therapy at 1.8 Gy or 2.0 Gy/fraction to a planned total of 68-74 Gy to the primary site/overt nodal disease. RESULTS: Nineteen (76%) of the 25 patients were diagnosed with stage IV disease, 17 of whom were first seen with bulky lymphadenopathy (ie, N2-N3 disease) while 10 had T4 lesions. Twenty-four of 25 patients were evaluable for response assessment. Complete response rates of 92% and 76% were achieved at the primary site and in lymph nodes, respectively. Hence, the overall complete response rate in the neck was 76% (16/21). At a median follow up interval of 42 months (range = 30-58 months), the projected 5-year overall and disease-specific survival using the Kaplan-Meier method are 23% and 50% respectively. No patient has developed recurrence at the primary site and only one patient relapsed regionally, which was surgically salvaged for an "above clavicle" disease control rate of 88% and an organ preservation rate of 88%. Almost 90% of the patients have achieved a satisfactory voice and 70% are able to swallow at 12 months postcompletion of therapy. CONCLUSION: Our chemoradiation protocol is as effective as other treatment modalities for patients with advanced pyriform sinus carcinoma while maintaining organ preservation and function in the majority of the patients.     

Surgical treatment of carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus

This paper discusses several recent advances in surgical methods for treatment of cancer of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. The standard surgical technique for the primary lesion is laryngo-pharyngo-esophagectomy in which the larynx is usually resected to prevent postoperative aspiration even if the cancer does not directly involve the larynx. Another common technique is total laryngectomy plus partial resection of the hypopharynx, where a very limited lesion in the unilateral pyriform sinus is resected with the surrounding hypopharyngeal mucosa and larynx. In this case, the defect in the hypopharyngeal mucosa is primarily sutured or reconstructed with a graft based on its size. Experience has demonstrated that the larynx can be preserved without any postoperative aspiration if it is not involved by cancer and surgeons design the lines of resection and the postoperative shape of the reconstructed area to prevent aspiration. It has also been demonstrated that even if a part of the larynx is involved and must be resected, the remaining portion of the larynx can sometimes be preserved without any distinct aspiration. There are two common surgical techniques for neck lymph nodes. Radical neck dissection is the classic one, in which the lymphatic tissues together with the surrounding structures, including the sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, and accessory nerve are resected. Conservative neck dissection resects the lymphatic tissues only and preserves other structures. Currently, the standard surgical technique is conservative neck dissection. Radical neck dissection is rarely performed now because its morbidity is much higher and its superiority in treatment results has not been established.     

Supracricoid laryngectomy with CHEP: functional results and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohiodoepiglottopexy could successfully reach the cure and preserve the voice in glottic laryngeal cancer, we studied 27 patients with T2/T3 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx treated in our institution with cricohiodoepiglottopexy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis has been carried out between 1995 through 1997. We classified 11 patients as T2N0M0 and 16 patients as T3N0M0. Nineteen patients had bilateral selective lateral neck dissection, 3 patients had unilateral lateral neck dissection, and 5 patients had undissected neck. Survival was analyzed under the Kaplan-Meyer method. RESULTS: Five patients had postoperative complications, 2 were treated with a total laryngectomy. The remaining 25 patients kept the normal airway, swallowing, and speech. None of the patients in the neck dissection group had neck metastasis. Two patients had recurrences, 1 with local recurrence was treated with a total laryngectomy and is alive without disease; the other patient had neck recurrence, was treated with radical neck dissection plus radiotherapy, and is dead of the disease. One patient had a second tumor in oropharynx treated with palliative radiotherapy and is dead of the disease. Three years disease-free survival was 75% for T2 and 79% for T3. CONCLUSIONS: This technique is useful in the treatment of selected cases of T3/T2 glottic cancer regarding the extent of disease. The incidence of complications in need of a complete laryngectomy does not compromise the functionality of this technique. The survival is comparable to patients who submitted to total laryngectomy and near-total laryngectomy, regarding the extent of the lesion.     

功能性区域颈淋巴结清扫术在治疗多发性颈淋巴结核中的临床研究

目的探讨功能性区域颈淋巴结清扫术组(研究组)患者和传统颈淋巴结核病灶清除术组(对照组)在多发性(多区)颈淋巴结核中的应用价值。方法选择2006年1月—2008年5月收治的经保守治疗无效,病灶出现液化或窦道的76例多发颈部淋巴结核患者,将患者随机分成研究组和对照组,对比两组术后复发率、颈部功能情况、平均住院时间、平均住院费用等。结果研究组术后3个月复发1例(2.56%,1/39),对照组术后3个月复发7例(18.92%,7/37)(P0.05);研究组术后3个月复查颈部功能全部正常,对照组术后3个月复查颈部功能不正常例数6例(16.22%)(P0.05)。研究组平均住院花费7 000元,对照组平均住院花费6 700元,两组差异无统计学意义;研究组平均住院天数11 d,对照组平均住院天数28 d(P0.05)。结论多发性颈淋巴结核患者保守治疗无效后施行功能性区域颈淋巴结清扫术,效果明显,优于颈部淋巴结核病灶清除术。     

Supraglottic hemipharyngolaryngectomy for the treatment of T1 and T2 carcinomas of laryngeal margin and piriform sinus

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the functional and oncologic results of supraglottic hemipharyngolaryngectomy as treatment for T1 and T2 lateral laryngeal margin and piriform sinus carcinomas. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients underwent this surgical treatment. The disease was classified T1 in 14 of these cases (16.1%) and T2 in 73 cases (83.9%). The nodal status indicated 39 cases of N0 (44.8%), 18 cases of N1 (20.7%), 28 cases of N2 (32.2%), and two cases of N3 (2.2%). With regard to the N0 cases, 15 (38.4%) were positive at the histologic examination. Within the N+ group, 52.1% involved capsular rupture. RESULTS: Two patients died of complications during the postoperative period. The mean duration of nasogastric tube feeding was 20 days. Six patients (7.27%) had feeding resumption problems. All patients were decanulated after a mean period of 16 days. All patients underwent postoperative radiation therapy, except two with T1N0N- disease and three who had previously undergone this treatment. The 5-year actuarial survival rate was 60.3% (T1, 83.3%; T2, 49.9%). The rates of local and regional recurrence, second primary cancer, and metastasis were 19.5%, 24.1%, and 28.1%, respectively. The infringement of the pharyngoepiglottic fold was significantly correlated with locoregional recurrence. The survival rate was significantly correlated with the nodal status and extracapsular spread. CONCLUSIONS: Initial staged cancers of the laryngeal margin and piriform sinus can be successfully managed with conservative surgery called supraglottic hemipharyngolaryngectomy combined with nodal neck dissection. Postoperative radiation therapy is still recommended in most cases because of the high recurrence potential and prevalence of secondary regional cancers. This combined treatment seems to be a suitable therapeutic choice in the treatment of patients with T1 and T2 carcinomas of the laryngeal margins and piriform sinus.     

Efficacy of routine bilateral neck dissection in the management of supraglottic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: In a previous study, we reported that the contralateral undissected neck was the most common site of failure in patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx. Since then, we have altered our treatment of all patients with T2-T4 supraglottic cancer and selective T1 cases to include routine bilateral neck dissection. In the present study, we compare the long-term efficacy of routine bilateral neck dissections to historic controls in the treatment of patients with supraglottic cancer. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective chart review on all patients undergoing primary surgery for supraglottic carcinoma between 1989 and 2000 was performed. All had undergone routine bilateral neck dissection. The most proximal area of recurrent disease was identified as the site of recurrence. Rates of recurrence, 2-year overall survival, and 2-year disease-specific survival were calculated. Results were compared to historical data using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of 180 patients identified, 115 patients with minimum 2-year follow-up and meeting exclusion criteria were included in the analysis. Four patients (3.5%) experienced local recurrence, 9 patients (7.8%) had cervical recurrence, and 8 patients had distant spread (7.0%). Recurrence in the neck (7.8%) has been significantly reduced from the historical recurrence rate (20%) prior to instituting routine bilateral neck dissections ( P = 0.009). The 2-year survival increased from 72% to 82.6% ( P = 0.0408). CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Routine bilateral neck dissection decreases cervical recurrence and appears to improve survival in the management of supraglottic cancer.     

Cervical lymph node metastasis after local excision of early squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

A total of 54 patients with stage I and stage II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were reviewed as to treatment modality, adequacy of treatment, and site of failure. Surgery was employed as the sole initial treatment modality in 52 patients. Forty-three underwent primary tumor excision alone and 9 underwent elective neck dissection at the time of primary tumor excision. The patients who underwent elective neck dissection at the time of excision of the primary tumor had a 3 year survival rate of 88 percent, in comparison to a survival rate of 77 percent in those patients whose initial therapy was directed solely at the primary tumor. A low incidence of local recurrence (2 percent) and a high incidence of neck recurrence (42 percent) were documented in those patients treated by primary tumor excision alone. Patients who underwent salvage neck dissection for recurrent neck node metastases had a 3 year survival rate of 56 percent. This study has documented a high incidence of cervical node recurrence in patients with T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity treated by primary tumor excision alone and a poor survival rate after salvage therapy. A small group of patients who underwent elective neck dissection had a demonstrably high survival rate. These observations lend support to the call for elective neck dissection in patients with stage I and II oral cavity carcinoma but are not conclusive. Therapeutic decisions regarding elective treatment of the neck will continue to be made according to the best judgment and prejudices of the individual surgeon until a prospective, randomized multi-institutional study addressing this specific issue is undertaken.     

Carcinoma of the parotid gland

BACKGROUND: The low incidence and heterogeneity of histiotypes of primary parotid carcinomas makes these tumors histologically and epidemiologically difficult to evaluate. The present study reviews a single institution's experience in the treatment of primary parotid carcinomas during the last 10 years. METHODS: The charts of 98 consecutive patients who had a primary parotid carcinoma and who received primary curative treatment were analyzed retrospectively. The tumors were grouped into high-grade and low-grade malignancies. The effect of treatment modalities on locoregional control, the incidence of locoregional recurrences and distant metastases, and survival rates are evaluated and compared between high- and low-grade malignancies. RESULTS: High- and low-grade malignant tumors were observed in 50 and 48 cases, respectively. Lymph node metastases were detected in 25 of 98 (25%) patients, of whom 8 of 22 (22%) clinically NO staged patients underwent elective neck dissection. In 24 of 26 resected facial nerves, a histologic tumor infiltration was confirmed, in 14 high-grade and 10 low-grade tumors. Local recurrence developed in 13 patients and was associated in 7 with high-grade and in 6 with low-grade tumors. All but 1 of the low-grade malignancies with local recurrence did not receive postoperative irradiation. Regional recurrence developed in 11 patients and distant metastases developed in 10, 3 in combination with a neck recurrence and 1 with a local recurrence. The survival rate at 5 years for low- and high-grade carcinomas was 87% and 56% and the disease-free survival rate 72% and 48%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of occult metastases in clinically N0-elective neck dissection was 22%. A routine elective neck dissection in all N0 parotid carcinomas is suggested. There is no statistically significant difference between low- and high-grade tumors as for the rate of local recurrence and, as all except one of the low-grade malignancies with local recurrence did not receive postoperative irradiation, postoperative irradiation is not only suggested for high-grade carcinomas but also for T2 to T4 low-grade carcinomas.     

Efficacy of routine bilateral neck dissection in the management of the N0 neck in T1-T2 unilateral supraglottic cancer

BACKGROUND: The treatment of the clinically negative (N0) neck in supraglottic laryngeal cancer continues to be an area of controversy. The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term efficacy of routine bilateral neck dissection compared with ipsilateral neck dissection in T1-T2 N0 lateral supraglottic carcinomas. METHODS: A retrospective review of 108 patients who underwent surgery for T1-T2 supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma was performed. Forty-eight had undergone ipsilateral functional neck dissection, and 60 had undergone bilateral functional neck dissections. None of these patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. RESULTS: No significant differences (p = .78) in regional recurrence were observed between the patients treated with bilateral neck dissection (13%) and those treated with ipsilateral neck dissection (17%). The 5-year survival rates were 73% and 80% for the patients who received a bilateral and ipsilateral neck dissection, respectively (p = .51). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that routine bilateral neck dissection may not be necessary in the surgical treatment of all supraglottic cancers.     

Elective neck dissection versus observation in stage I squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue and floor of the mouth.

A retrospective study was undertaken of patients with T1N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of the mouth who underwent surgical treatment between 1985 and 1995. Evaluation of two groups of patients (neck dissection versus observation) was made according to the management of the neck. Results were obtained regarding the presence of occult metastases, recurrence in the neck, treatment failure, results of salvage treatment, and disease-free survival. Forty-nine patients underwent surgical treatment: 25 resection of primary and 24 resection plus neck dissection. Overall incidence of regional metastases was 24.5%. Eight patients (16%) developed recurrence of the disease. Seven (14%) had regional recurrences (including 1 with distant metastases) and 1(2%) had local recurrence. Twenty-four percent of patients from the resection of primary group developed neck recurrences in comparison with 4% of the resection plus neck dissection group (P = 0.05). Overall salvage rate was 37.5%. Second primary tumors developed in 16% of patients. Patients who underwent elective neck dissection had a 23% higher disease-free survival rate compared with those who underwent resection of the tumor alone (P = 0.03). The findings of this study stress the importance of control of the neck in early oral cancer. Elective neck dissection significantly improved regional control of the disease.     

Modified neck dissection: A study of 967 cases from 1970 to 1980

The medical records of 967 patients treated with a modified neck dissection were carefully reviewed, and the data were collected and statistically analyzed. For a primary tumor in the oral cavity or oropharynx, a supraomohyoid neck dissection was adequate treatment for the neck that was both clinically staged N₀ or N₁ and pathologically staged N₁ without evidence of extracapsular invasion. For primary tumors in the larynx and hypopharynx, an elective bilateral anterior neck dissection is considered proper treatment if the nodes are not multiple or if connective tissue disease is not present. A functional neck dissection is effective neck treatment regardless of the primary site or stage of the disease. The selective use of postoperative radiotherapy can more effectively decrease the incidence of neck recurrence compared with surgery alone in patients with multiple positive nodes, a node more than 3 cm in size, or nodes with extracapsular invasion.     

Planned neck dissection as an adjunct to the management of patients with advanced neck disease treated with definitive radiotherapy: for some or for all?

BACKGROUND: Management of patients with head and neck carcinoma and advanced nodal disease is controversial. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of definitive radiotherapy followed by planned neck dissection in patients with bulky neck disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 52 patients who were treated between 1989 and 1995 at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute with a planned neck dissection after radical radiotherapy were reviewed. All had advanced neck disease with one or more nodes >/=3 cm in maximum diameter, 94% being staged N2-3. The most common primary site was the oropharynx (56%). Sixty percent of patients had either T2 or T3 primaries and all were AJCC stage IV. Treatment consisted of high-dose radiotherapy to the primary and involved neck sites using various fractionation protocols followed by radical or modified radical neck dissection after confirmation of a complete response at the primary site. The median follow-up for living patients was 58 months (range 32-97). RESULTS: There were nine regional failures, of which three were outside the dissected neck, yielding a 5-year actuarial overall neck control rate of 83% and an in-field control rate of 88%. In-field control rates by neck stage were N1 3/3; N2 31/35; N3 11/13 and NX 1/1. There was only one in-field failure among 28 patients who had pathologically negative neck specimens compared with five in 24 patients with morphologic evidence of residual disease. Of the 24 patients with pathologically positive necks, 5 were long-term survivors and were probably cured by their surgery. Another 4 died of intercurrent disease without documented recurrence of their head and neck cancer. Ten patients recurred at their primary sites (5-year actuarial control 79%) and 8 developed distant metastases (5-year actuarial rate 20%). A total of 21 patients failed at one or more sites and none was salvaged. Five-year actuarial disease-free survival was 57% and overall survival 38%. Nine patients (17%) sustained significant complications following neck dissection. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with advanced neck disease who are treated primarily with radical radiotherapy, planned neck dissection provides excellent regional control and appears to cure a subset of patients. However, routine neck dissection adds significant morbidity to treatment and should ideally be avoided in those patients in whom surgery is either unnecessary (no residual tumor) or futile (unsalvageable disease recurrence outside the dissected neck). Based on our analysis and other recently reported series, we now recommend observing patients who have a complete response to high-dose radiotherapy (+/- chemotherapy). The ability of PET imaging to detect residual viable tumor in the head and neck or at distant sites is under investigation.     

A conservation approach to pharyngeal carcinoma with advanced neck disease: optimizing neck management

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of advanced neck disease remains controversial when a conservative approach based on radiotherapy is retained for primary tumors. The objective of this study was to evaluate retrospectively treatment results in pharyngeal cancers presenting with N2-N3 neck disease, using neck dissection followed by radical locoregional radiotherapy (RT) and to compare these results with those obtained in patients treated by radical RT alone. METHODS: From August 1991 to November 1996, 41 patients with carcinomas of the oro- or hypopharynx were staged as T1-T3 N2-N3 M0 (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage IV). Twenty-four patients were treated with neck dissection followed by RT (group 1) and 17 patients with radical RT (group 2) using a progressively accelerated concomitant boost schedule. Chemotherapy was delivered to 6 patients in group 1 and 8 in group 2 partially concomitantly with RT. RESULTS: Three-year actuarial locoregional control was 73% and 55% for groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = .52). The corresponding 3-year actuarial overall survival rates were 37% and 50% (p = .42). Severe postoperative complications were observed after neck dissection in four patients (16%). Acute toxicity during RT was similar in the two groups. Late toxicities were also similar, except for two patients in group 1 who developed severe laryngeal edema. CONCLUSIONS: Neck dissection followed by radical RT to the primary tumor and neck represents a valid treatment option in this subset of patients, allowing good control of advanced neck disease, while at the same time conserving pharyngolaryngeal function. However, for patients who are at high risk of severe postoperative complications, radical RT can be considered a worthy alternative, particularly for oropharyngeal carcinomas.     

Selective neck dissections for squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: patterns of regional failure.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons have been using selective neck dissections in the treatment of squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract for over 20 years. To date, no data is available that can answer the question "What are the patterns of failure in the neck following a selective neck dissection and is a selective neck dissection a reliable procedure for metastatic disease?" METHODS: To answer this question, the medical records of all patients with squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx treated at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from January 1, 1985-December 31, 1990, with a selective neck dissection were reviewed. Five hundred seventeen neck dissections were analyzed: suprahyoid (41), supraomohyoid (284), and anterolateral (192). The end point of the study was regional failure and survival. RESULTS: Regional recurrence in patients treated with a suprahyoid dissection was 43% with pathologically positive nodes. The regional recurrence in the patients treated with a supraomohyoid neck dissection was 1.9% with pathologically negative nodes, 35.7% with path N1 without postoperative radiation therapy, and 5.6% with postoperative radiation therapy. The neck staged pathologically N2B failed with and without postoperative radiation, 8.3% and 14%, respectively. Thirteen percent of the anterior/lateral neck dissections failed regionally. If multiple pathologically positive nodes (N2B) were present, the regional failure with postoperative radiation was 30% and 33.3% without postoperative radiation. CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective study suggest that a selective neck dissection is a satisfactory staging procedure and is a definitive operation if all the nodes are pathologically negative. However, if a node is found to be invaded with cancer, the use of postoperative radiation is advisable.     

Surgical treatment of early-stage carcinoma of the oral tongue--wound adjuvant treatment be beneficial?

A group of 97 patients with clinical stage I and stage II squamous carcinoma of the oral tongue, treated by partial glossectomy alone, has been reviewed to define prognostic indicators. Sixty-seven patients were staged T1N0 and 30 were T2N0. Disease recurred in 28 patients (27%) and the most common site of failure was the ipsilateral neck (21%). The incidence of initial recurrence did not vary significantly with patient age, sex, T-stage, or when tumor size was examined in other subdivisions. The presence of perineural invasion significantly increased recurrence rate (P = 0.003) and decreased survival (P = 0.002). Disease-free survival at 5 yr was 73% for patients with T1 tumors, and 62% for T2 tumors. This difference was not significant. In this low-risk patient population with early stage carcinoma of the oral tongue, partial glossectomy is adequate treatment in most cases. However, we recommend postoperative radiation therapy to the primary site and ipsilateral neck for patients with perineural invasion. No evidence could be found to support adjuvant local therapy or elective neck treatment in the remaining patients.     

Aggressive surgical management of pyriform sinus carcinoma. A 15 year experience

A total of 51 patients with pyriform sinus carcinoma were treated surgically. Fifty had pharyngolaryngectomy and radical neck dissection and 1 had a pharyngolaryngectomy. The surgical mortality was zero. No patients were lost to follow-up and all were followed for a minimum of 2 years. Stage IV patients had a 2 year survival rate of 15 percent and stage III patients, a 45 percent rate. Eighty-four percent of radical neck specimens contained involved nodes. The 2 year survival rates correlated with the number of pathologically involved nodes were as follows: 50 percent for those with zero to one node, 31 percent for two to three nodes, and 16 percent for four or more nodes. Perioperative radiotherapy increased the survival rate in those patients with zero to three involved nodes (47 percent survival rate with radiotherapy versus 25 percent without radiotherapy). Tumor recurrence was most frequent at the primary site (32 percent) and directly affected survival and control of disease elsewhere. Pyriform sinus carcinoma often presents with advanced local and nodal disease. Local control is essential, and adequate resection may require a cervical esophagectomy. Survival may be enhanced by the addition of radiotherapy in those patients with minimal nodal involvement.