Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy. Analysis of 240 cases

Influencing Factors of Survival in Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Cancer

Objectives: This study examined the effects of various factors on survival in hypopharyngeal cancer, involving a total of 100 patients. Methods: Comorbidities, treatment modalities, survival times, and potential factors affecting survival were retrospectively analysed. The expression of p16 was also examined. A statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS V25 software. Results: The mean overall survival time was determined to be 30.8 months. Smoking was observed in 95%, and regular alcohol consumption was reported in 75% of the cases. The expression of p16 did not significantly affect survival (p = 0.74) or the maximum tumour size (p = 0.21). The Kaplan-Meier method demonstrated significantly longer survival times (p = 0.047 *) in the group that underwent partial pharyngolaryngectomy with or without adjuvant therapy (median: 75.25 months, 95% CI: 31.57-118.93), compared to the other four treatment groups (i.e., total laryngectomy with pharyngectomy with or without adjuvant therapy, chemoradiation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy). Conclusions: The study found that factors such as sex, comorbidities (e.g., type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), TNM and stage, weight loss, smoking, and alcohol consumption did not have a significant effect on survival. In conclusion, the longest survival was observed after partial pharyngolaryngectomy with or without adjuvant therapy. Risk factors and comorbidities did not show a significant effect on survival. p16 expression was not a factor that affected either survival or tumour size.

Open-neck organ preservation surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer: indications, techniques, limits, and outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To appraise the practice and role of open-neck organ preserving surgery for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to update the current indications, techniques, limits, and outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

The role of primary surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma has shifted over the past two decades to primary nonsurgical management with the use of induction or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The preferred and most suitable tumours for open-neck surgery are the small-volume T stage diseases, with small to medium-volume neck metastases, however such patients are exceedingly rare. Nonetheless, more advanced tumours with cartilage invasion, vocal cord paralysis, or located at piriform apex and postcricoid area, previously unsuitable for open-neck organ preserving surgery, can now be excised and repaired, minimizing morbidity and improving quality of patients' life. Much of this surgical progress has been developed by innovative surgeons using free tissue transfer, accurate placement surgery, reconstruction of a neoglottis, and perfecting the pharyngoesophageal anastomosis. Current practice of open-neck organ preserving surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma has been mainly reported in Asia: Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and China.

SUMMARY

There are some patients who are deemed unsuitable and/or unwilling for current treatment by nonsurgical approaches, and open-neck organ preserving laryngopharyngeal surgery may be a more suitable alternative than selecting a 'lesser or modified' chemo or bioradiotherapy regimen, resulting in a prolonged quantity and quality of life.

Combined Surgery and Radiation Therapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx

Squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx remains a highly lethal disease. This article documents our experience with 132 patients undergoing surgical management of squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, of whom 80% received postoperative radiation therapy. Local-regional control was obtained in 61% of the patients. Five-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 30% and 41%, respectively. Prognosis was better in patients with limited disease: local disease permitting larynx-sparing surgery, N0/N1 clinical neck, and stage I/II/III disease. Cancer of the hypopharynx remains an aggressive entity associated with poor prognosis. Novel strategies stressing improved local-regional control with prevention of distant metastasis are warranted.

Supracricoid Hemilaryngopharyngectomy in Patients with Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Pyriform Sinus

On the basis of a retrospective review of an inception cohort of 135 patients, with an isolated, previously untreated, moderately differentiated to well-differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus and a minimum of 3 years of follow-up, consecutively managed with a supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy (SCHLP) at a single tertiary referral care center and locally controlled, the authors review in detail the surgical technique, highlight the potential technical pitfalls, and document the complications and long-term functional outcome. The overall postoperative mortality rate was 3.7%. The overall mortality rate directly related to the SCHLP was 1.5%. A significant surgical complication directly related to SCHLP completion was noted in 9.6% of cases. The mean lengths of time to removal of the tracheotomy and feeding tubes were 9 and 19 days, respectively. The mean duration of hospitalization was 25 days. Normal swallowing without aspiration by the first postoperative month was noted in 64.6% of patients. Temporary grade 1–2 aspiration and grade 3 aspiration were noted in 26.9% and 8.5% of patients, respectively. Overall, in our series, successful oral alimentation without gastrostomy or completion total laryngectomy was achieved in 91.9% of patients by the first postoperative year, and the incidences of permanent gastrostomy, completion total laryngectomy, and aspiration-related death were 0.7%, 1.5%, and 0.7%, respectively. A significant late complication related to the use of postoperative radiotherapy was noted in 26.5% of cases. From a functional point of view, such results suggest that SCHLP should be integrated among the various conservation treatment options available to patients with selected invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus.

Supracricoid Hemilaryngopharyngectomy in Patients with Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Pyriform Sinus

Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy (SCHLP) was performed in 147 patients over a 19-year period for previously untreated invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus. With a minimum of 3 years' follow-up, the current retrospective series was designed to document the incidence, risk factors, and consequences of local recurrence following SCHLP. Before operation, 97.4% of patients had an induction chemotherapy regimen. A complete clinical response and a complete histologic regression were noted in 21.7% and 16.8% of patients, respectively. A significant statistical relationship (p = .0001) was noted between complete clinical response and complete histologic regression. Postoperative radiotherapy was used in 49.8% of patients. The overall local recurrence rate was 8.2%. The 5-year actuarial (Kaplan-Meier life-table method) local control estimate was 90.4%. As a function of T stage, the 5-year actuarial local control estimates were 96.2%, 91.1%, 92.9%, and 62.6% in patients with tumors classified as T1, T2, T3, and T4a, respectively. On univariate analysis, the overall local recurrence rate varied significantly, from 5.3% to 55.6% if the apex of the pyriform sinus was invaded (p = .02), 6.9% to 18.7% if the posterior pharyngeal wall was invaded (p = .03), and 6.3% to 60% if the margins of resection were positive (p = .02). In a stepwise regression model, positive margins of resection (odds ratio, 8.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.2 to 32.2; p = .002) and invasion of the apex of the pyriform sinus (odds ratio, 6.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 33.3; p = .04) were the variables statistically associated with an increased risk of local recurrence. Local recurrence resulted in a statistically significant increased risk of nodal recurrence (p = .005) and death (p < .004). The overall laryngeal preservation rate was 91.2%. From an oncological perspective, these results suggest that SCHLP should become a major tool in the armamentarium of the head and neck surgeon and should be integrated into future trials aimed at organ preservation in patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus.

Primary radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus

The objective of this study is to report the long-term outcomes of primary radiotherapy (RT) for patients with T1-T2 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the pyriform sinus. Between November 1964 and March 2008, 135 patients with T1-T2 pyriform sinus SCC were treated with primary RT at the University of Florida. Adjuvant chemotherapy was employed in 21 patients (16 %) and 62 patients (46 %) underwent a planned neck dissection. Median follow-up was 3.5 years (range 0.2-24.7 years); median follow-up on living patients was 8.3 years (range 3.8-24.0 years). The 5-year outcomes were as follows: local control, 85 %; regional control, 81 %; local-regional control, 71 %; distant metastasis-free survival, 76 %; cause-specific survival, 62 %; and overall survival, 38 %. The 5-year local control rate was 88 % for T1 cancers and 84 % for those with T2 SCCs (p = 0.5429). Sixteen patients (12 %) experienced severe late complications. Primary RT results in a high probability of cure with a relatively modest risk of severe late complications for patients with T1-T2 SCCs of the pyriform sinus.

Early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus: a review of treatment options

The purpose of this review of the literature was to present treatment options for early stage pyriform sinus cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus, as the most frequent cancer arising from the hypopharynx, is rarely diagnosed in its early stage. Based on evidence from retrospective studies, conservation surgery and definitive radiotherapy are considered the available treatment modalities for patients presenting with stage T1 and T2 pyriform sinus carcinomas without clinical evidence of neck lymph node metastases, offering similar results with respect to disease control and functional organ preservation. Also, the high risk of occult metastatic nodal disease even in the earliest stage of pyriform sinus cancer entails elective neck dissection or elective neck irradiation to be considered mandatory. However, for patients with early stage pyriform sinus cancer, no level 1 study exists in which conservation surgery is compared with radiotherapy alone for the evaluation of local control or survival. Randomized multicenter controlled trials evaluating efficacy of conservation surgery and definitive radiotherapy, and correctly interpreting functional outcome for each of the treatment procedures examined are necessary to obtain sufficient evidence to influence the decision in the choice of the most effective treatment for early pyriform sinus cancer.

Factors associated with supracricoid laryngectomy functional outcomes

BACKGROUND

Supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) is an option for laryngeal cancer resection that preserves laryngeal function; however, little information exists regarding factors that are associated with functional outcomes.

METHODS

A medical chart review was performed on patients that underwent SCPL at our institution between 2006 and 2011. Data were collected on surgical, voice, and swallowing outcomes.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were identified. Thirteen underwent cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) and 5 had a cricohyoidopexy (CHP). Mean follow-up was 737 days. On average, decannulation occurred at 27.4 days and feeding tube removal at 87.9 days postoperatively. Sixty-seven percent of patients tolerated an unrestricted diet at follow-up. Increased age and a CHP procedure were associated with negative outcomes. Age may be a proxy for more extensive disease and prior treatments.

CONCLUSION

Patients who undergo an SCPL require extensive rehabilitation after surgery. Those who have undergone multiple cancer interventions and have more extensive surgery may be at risk for poorer outcomes.

Aortic Homograft Reconstruction of Partial Laryngectomy Defects: A New Technique

Objectives:

Wide-field transcervical partial laryngectomy often precludes tracheotomy decannulation. It is done infrequently today, primarily because of the popularity of chemotherapy-radiotherapy treatment regimens and limited enthusiasm for using transcervical partial laryngectomy after failed radiotherapy. We sought to identify a new reconstructive technique that would provide an alternative to total laryngectomy in as many patients as possible.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective examination of 15 patients who underwent single-stage wide-field transcervical partial laryngectomy with cryopreserved aortic homograft reconstruction. Eight of the 15 patients had previously undergone failed radiotherapy. At least 40% of the cricoid circumference was resected in 8 patients.

Results:

All 15 patients had their tracheotomy tube removed and have laryngeal phonation, and 14 of the 15 resumed oral intake. There were no major surgical complications.

Conclusions:

Use of aortic homografts is a new, reliable, and versatile reconstructive option for performing conservation laryngeal cancer surgery that allows for airway, swallowing, and voice preservation.

Functional organ preservation in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer

The principles of open versus laser microsurgical approaches for partial resections of the larynx are described, oncologic as well as functional results discussed and corresponding outcomes following primary radiotherapy are opposed. Over the last decade, the endoscopic partial resection of the larynx has developed to an accepted approach in the treatment of early glottic and supraglottic carcinomas thus leading to a remarkable decline in the use of open surgery. Comparing the various surgical approaches of laryngeal partial resections, the oncological outcome of the patients, as far as survival and organ preservation are concerned, are comparable, whereas functional results of the endoscopic procedures are superior with less morbidity. The surgical procedures put together, are all superior to radiotherapy concerning organ preservation. Transoral laser microsurgery has been used successfully for vocal cord carcinomas with impaired mobility or fixation of the vocal cord, supraglottic carcinomas with infiltration of the pre- and/or paraglottic space as well as for selected hypopharyngeal carcinomas. It has been well documented that laser microsurgery achieves good oncological as well as functional results with reasonable morbidity. However, patients with those tumours have been successfully treated by open partial resections of the larynx at medical centres with appropriate expertise. The initially enthusiastic assessment of study results concerning the efficacy of various protocols of chemoradiation with the intent of organ preservation for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas are judged more cautious, today, due to recent reports of rather high rates of late toxicity complications.

Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy for selected pyriform sinus carcinoma patients--a retrospective chart review

Background

The aim of this study is to assess the functional and oncologic results of supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy and report our experience in the technique, local control and overall survival rates.

Materials and methods

18 selected patients with pyriform sinus cancer treated by supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy in a University Hospital setting. Retrospective chart review was used to assess functional and oncologic results of the procedure.

Results

The actuarial 5 year survival rate in our study was 55.56% and the actuarial neck recurrence rate was 16.67%. All patients were successfully decannulated. Aspiration pneumonia was the most common postoperative complication (22.23%) and was treated mostly conservatively. One patient required a temporary gastrostomy but no patient needed total laryngectomy in the postoperative period.

Conclusion

Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy in experienced hands is a reliable technique for selected patients with pyriform sinus cancer.

Voice after supracricoid laryngectomy: Subjective, objective and self-assessment data

Supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) is an efficient surgical procedure for the treatment of selected laryngeal carcinoma, presently being performed not only in Europe but also in North America. The functional goals of the technique are voice and swallowing without a permanent tracheostoma. Perceptual and acoustic voice characteristics after SCL have been reported by different authors, but self-assessment data together with subjective and objective data have only been reported for a small number of subjects. Twenty male subjects, with a mean age of 71 years (range: 51-82 years) who underwent a SCL at least one year before our observation, were included in the study. Each subject underwent a flexible laryngoscopy and his voice was perceptually rated using the GRBAS scale. Objective examination included: maximum phonation time (MPT), voice spectrograms and syllable diadochokinesis on a single breath. Finally, each subject assessed his own voice using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). The mean values of the GRBAS scale were respectively 2.4, 2.6, 2.4, 0.8, 0.5, 0.8. Mean MPT was 7.5 s, while for voice spectrograms the mean value of the Yanagihara scale was 3.7. Mean syllable diadochokinesis appeared as 3.3 syllables/s. Mean value of the VHI was 29.9. Subjective and objective data show a severely dysphonic voice after SCL; self-assessment data, on the contrary, reveal only moderate functional and emotional consequences. While perceptual, aerodynamic and acoustic data are in line with previous reports, self-assessment data were less severe in our subjects compared to what appears in the literature. It is concluded that self-assessment explores a different dimension of the patient's voice and that even if a severe dysphonia is present the consequences on everyday oral communication are only moderate.

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.

Long-term voice and swallowing modifications after supracricoid laryngectomy: objective, subjective, and self-assessment data

PURPOSE

The supracricoid laryngectomies (SCLs) are conservative surgical techniques for the treatment of selected laryngeal carcinomas. The advantage of SCL is that a permanent tracheostoma is not required, thus, maintaining the principal laryngeal functions. The aim of the study is to report objective, subjective, and self-assessment long-term results of voice and swallowing in a large group of patients who underwent SCL at least 2 years before this study was undertaken.

METHODS

Twenty male subjects who underwent SCL with a mean age of 71 years (range, 51-82) were involved in a retrospective study on swallowing and vocal function. Videoendoscopic ratings were taken of neoglottic vibration patterns and bolus transit. The maximum phonation time and the syllable diadochokinesis were measured. Spectrograms were recorded. Voices were perceptually rated using the Grade, Instability, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenicity, Strain (GIRBAS) scale. All of the subjects completed a self-assessment questionnaire for both voice and swallowing.

RESULTS

Videoendoscopic ratings showed moderate to severe impairment of neoglottal vibration, whereas bolus transit appeared only mildly impaired. The mean values of the GIRBAS scale were 2.4, 2.6, 2.4, 0.8, 0.5, and 0.8. The mean maximum phonation time was 7.5 seconds, whereas the mean value of the Yanagihara scale was 3.7 for voice spectrograms. Mean syllable diadochokinesis appeared as 3.3 syllables per second. Voice and swallowing quality of life questionnaires revealed satisfied patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Swallowing after SCL was satisfactory; on the contrary, endoscopic, aerodynamic, perceptual, and acoustic data showed a highly dysphonic voice after SCL. However, self-assessment results revealed relatively satisfied speakers on the emotional, physical, and functional levels.

Conservation laryngeal surgery for selected pyriform sinus cancer

AIMS

This study reports the treatment of a cohort of patients with pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma, using conservative surgery and radiotherapy.

METHODS

Thirty-four patients with pyriform sinus SCC were treated between 1986 and 2001, using partial laryngopharyngectomy with or without complementary radiotherapy. Seventy-six percent had stage III-IV lesions. Quality of life questionnaire and clinical examination were used for evaluation of laryngeal function.

RESULTS

Conservation surgery was undertaken. All patients underwent neck dissection. Two thirds of the patients received post-operative radiotherapy. Reconstruction was achieved by local muscular flap in 13 cases, radial forearm free flap in 18 and pectoralis major flap in three. Five-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were 50 and 65%, respectively. Successful laryngeal function preservation with local control was achieved in 80% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Partial laryngopharyngectomy is a suitable treatment for early and selected advanced stage pyriform sinus carcinoma with a good functional and oncologic outcome.

Limited surgery for cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx: options and consequences

We reviewed surgical options for laryngeal preservation (limited surgery) in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers and the consequences of the options. Of 44 patients with laryngeal cancer, 11 (25%) received limited surgery and 33 (75%) received total laryngectomy. The survival rates were 91% for the limited surgery group and 73% for the total (radical) surgery group. Of 31 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, 7 (23%) received limited surgery and 24 (77%) received total laryngopharyngectomy. The survival rates were 53% for the limited surgery group and 40% for the total (radical) surgery group. The survival rates associated with limited surgery were thus better than those for total (radical) surgery for cancers of both the larynx and hypopharynx. This was attributed to the limited surgery group comprising well-selected patients with confined lesions. Organ preservation surgery should be technically simple, reliable in terms of its functional impact and, above all, should not jeopardize the patient's survival. Supracricoid subtotal laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy or cricohyoido-pexy has great potential for laryngeal preservation and will become the major limited surgery modality for treating cancer of the larynx. Limited surgery, however, needs to be performed with great care and is indicated only for very well-selected patients with cancer of the hypopharynx.

Three-dimensional analysis of supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomized hypopharyngeal cancer

The aims of this study were to demonstrate the technical aspects of processing high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) images and to describe the value of this approach for studying partially removed hypopharyngeal cancer. Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy was conducted in three sinus-type hypopharyngeal cancers as a salvage operation. A histopathologic study was conducted in order to fully examine the resection margin of the surgical specimens and to ensure the credibility of our case selection. The morphological features of each specimen were analyzed and demonstrated using 2D and 3D settings. Whole-mount serial histological sections were developed from the surgical specimens and 3D images were reconstructed based on these sections. In each case the 3D images demonstrated the characteristic patterns of cancer extension, such as superior extension under the intact epithelium and the formation of multiple skip lesions. The overall resection margin was proven to be free of cancer in all three cases. In conclusion, 3D study was useful for evaluating the overall resection margin of surgical specimens and provided valuable information for use in future follow-up. Using this technique, the morphological findings from serial sections are more comprehensive and impressive. 3D reconstruction is and will be a crucial modality for studying the morphological behavior of hypopharyngeal cancer.

Functional outcomes after supracricoid laryngectomy

OBJECTIVES

Local control and 5-year survival rates are similar for patients undergoing total laryngectomy and supracricoid laryngectomy for the treatment of advanced-stage laryngeal carcinoma. However, comprehensive studies of functional outcomes after supracricoid laryngectomy are lacking.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study.

METHODS

This investigation provides objective voice laboratory data, skilled listener impressions of voice samples, swallowing evaluations, and patient self-perceptions of speech ability obtained from 10 supracricoid laryngectomees.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated variable acoustic and speech aerodynamic disturbances, hoarse-breathy vocal quality, and speech dysfluency. Patients' self-perceptions of voice revealed severe dysphonia that induced certain emotional, physical, and functional setbacks. However, blinded judges rated these individuals as possessing intelligible speech and communication skills. All patients demonstrated premature spillage of the bolus and varying degrees of laryngeal penetration, aspiration, and retention during swallowing studies. However, each patient used a compensatory strategy to protect the airway. Voice and swallowing abilities appeared to depend on the mobility of the arytenoid cartilages, base of tongue action, and residual supraglottic tissue for the creation of a competent neoglottal sphincter complex that vibrated during phonation efforts and protected the airway during deglutition.

CONCLUSIONS

Supracricoid laryngectomy avoids the potential complications, limitations, and emotional problems associated with a permanent tracheostoma. All patients demonstrated intelligible voice and effective swallowing function postoperatively, supporting supracricoid laryngectomy as a suitable alternative surgical approach to the total laryngectomy in select patients.

CONSERVATION LARYNGEAL SURGERY FOR MALIGNANT TUMORS OF THE LARYNX AND PYRIFORM SINUS

Conservation surgery for cancers of the larynx and pyriform sinus is an expansive and complicated subject. A great deal of technical expertise and clinical judgement are required for appropriate surgical and oncologic outcomes. In the appropriate setting, surgery continues to play an important role in voice preservation for patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Perhaps most importantly, options for organ preservation surgery have expanded, and the number of patients requiring total laryngectomy as primary surgical management has decreased. The medical surgical decision making is complex and requires precise delineation of tumor extent, careful patient evaluation, and thorough interdisciplinary discussion to select an optimal course of treatment for the individual patient.

Radioterapia como tratamento exclusivo no câncer avançado da laringe

Caracteristicamente os estágios avançados (III e IV) do câncer da laringe são tratados inicialmente por cirurgia, seguida de radioterapia complementar. Esta tem sido a combinação terapêutica que tem obtido os melhores resultados, com relação à maior sobrevida e ao maior tempo livre de doença, nestes pacientes. Porém, como freqüentemente a cirurgia a ser adotada nestes casos representa uma mutilação, perda da voz laríngea, nem sempre esta opção de tratamento é aceita pelos pacientes. Por outro lado, pacientes portadores de doença em estágio avançado podem encontrar-se com suas condições clínicas bastante comprometidas, o que impossibilita a realização de uma cirurgia de grande porte. A associação de quimioterapia e radioterapia tem tido pouca utilidade neste tipo de pacientes, pois geralmente apresentam estado clínico geral comprometido e não suportam a alta toxicidade dos esquemas terapêuticos empregados. Nestes casos a indicação de radioterapia exclusiva, como forma de tentar controlar a doença, tem sido a única arma terapêutica que nos resta, e cujos resultados sempre foram uma incógnita no nosso meio. Foram estudados 62 pacientes portadores de carcinoma epidermóide avançado (estágios III e IV) da laringe, tratados por radioterapia exclusiva, no Hospital do Câncer (INCa), durante os anos de 1992 e 1993. Foi realizado tratamento radioterápico com intenção curativa, sendo empregada a dose clássica de 50cGy em cinco semanas. Estes pacientes foram retrospectivamente analisados quanto à sobrevida, ao estágio da doença, à presença de linfonodos cervicais metastáticos, à idade e à necessidade de traqueostomia prévia. Além da constatação da total ineficácia da radioterapia no controle da doença laríngea estágio IV, detectou-se que a sobrevida de três anos igual a 54% para os pacientes do estágio III e a preservação da função da laringe em 2/3 dos pacientes, poderão representar, dependendo de estudos mais abrangentes, uma alternativa terapêutica para pacientes selecionados.

Conservative surgery in T3-T4 pharyngolaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: an alternative to radiation therapy and to total laryngectomy for good responders to induction chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the possibility of preservation of the larynx after neoadjuvant chemotherapy by performing a conservative surgery instead of total laryngectomy initially planned, in patients with previously untreated laryngeal and piriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

METHODS

A total of 115 patients treated at Tenon Hospital with induction chemotherapy from 1985 to 1995, all with initial indication of radical surgery, were available for the study. The clinical tumor response was evaluated after three cycles of chemotherapy. According to this response, to preserve laryngeal functions, some patients had a modification of the treatment initially planned: radiation therapy essentially for complete responders, and conservative surgery for some partial responders.

RESULTS

Of 69 patients with laryngeal cancer, 14 were treated by partial laryngectomy and 19 by radiation therapy; of 46 patients with piriform sinus cancer, 8 were treated by partial surgery and 12 by radiation therapy; the other patients were treated as was initially planned (total laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy). Overall survival rates, estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, were not statistically different between the three treatment groups. The laryngeal functions were preserved in 54% of the patients who were alive at 3 years.

CONCLUSION

This report is a retrospective study, but these results suggest the possibility of using conservative surgery, instead of initially planned total laryngectomy, for good responders to induction chemotherapy with a small residual tumor.

Preliminary clinical results of window partial laryngectomy: a combined endoscopic and open technique

Endoscopic laser resection for anterior commissure glottic carcinoma is difficult, because of inadequate exposure and close proximity to the underlying cartilage. A technique combining endoscopic carbon dioxide laser incision and an external approach creating a window in the thyroid cartilage was initially tested in a canine study and then performed in 5 patients. All patients were men, with T1 or T2 glottic or supraglottic cancer involving the anterior commissure, and had failed radiation treatment. The true or false vocal fold tumors were excised along with the paraglottic space and adjacent cartilage, with preservation of the remaining thyroid framework. The reconstruction was accomplished with placement of a sternohyoid muscle flap, by use of either a bipedicled muscle flap with overlying skin or a unipedicled muscle flap with a graft of free mucosa. The graft was secured in place with fibrin glue and laser soldering. Follow-up ranged from 11 months to 4 years and included biopsies. All patients had voice recordings before and after surgery. A tracheostomy was avoided in all patients. The hospital stays were 4 to 13 days. The voice quality was good after surgery. One patient died of unrelated causes 18 months after his surgery without evidence of recurrence. The other patients are still alive with no evidence of disease. The only complication was subcutaneous neck emphysema in 1 patient that spontaneously resolved. The results showed a satisfactory anatomic reconstruction and acceptable functions. We believe that this new combined technique is oncologically sound, may overcome the limited access seen with the endoscopic technique and the excessive cartilage resection seen with external partial laryngectomy, avoids a tracheostomy, and shortens hospital stays.

Supracricoid laryngectomy: a significant advance in the management of laryngeal cancer

Supracricoid laryngectomy is a new development in the treatment of laryngeal cancer in Australia. It allows the removal of both vocal cords, vestibular folds, and the entire thyroid cartilage including the paraglottic space without the loss of laryngeal function. This technique may offer a significant advance in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. This paper reviews the surgical management of laryngeal cancer and discusses this new technique with modifications, indications for its use and the advantages of supracricoid laryngectomy. Case reports of seven patients operated on in our institution are included.

Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy conversion to Pearson's near-total laryngectomy: a case report

BACKGROUND

Pearson's near-total laryngectomy was initially advocated in patients with extended glottic carcinoma and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. More recently, the utility of near-total laryngectomy for supraglottic pharyngeal, base of tongue, and other cancers such as thyroid cancer with anterior tracheal wall invasion has also been reported.

METHODS

The purpose of this case report was to demonstrate the feasibility of this procedure in the setting of severe aspiration after supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy.

RESULTS

The first case of successful conversion from supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy to Pearson's near-total laryngectomy in a patient with severe and recurrent aspiration is presented.

CONCLUSIONS

This case report suggests that when partial laryngopharyngectomy results in severe and recurrent aspiration, rather than having to convert the patient to a total laryngectomy with tracheoesophageal puncture, a near-total laryngectomy is a reasonable option with acceptable functional results.

Supraglottic hemilaryngopharyngectomy plus radiation for the treatment of early lateral margin and pyriform sinus carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Supraglottic hemilaryngopharyngectomy is a functional procedure suitable for the treatment of carcinoma of the upper part of the pyriform sinus and carcinoma of the lateral laryngeal margin. It consists of resection of the supraglottic hemilarynx and ipsilateral pyriform sinus.

METHODS

Forty-nine patients underwent this procedure from 1979 through 1994. The median age was 51 (40-72). The data were collected by a review of patients' records.

RESULTS

Two patients died in the postoperative period. The average time of removal of the nasogastric tube was 14 days. The survival rate at 3 years was 52% and at 5 years, 47%. The local recurrence rate was 2%, the overall neck recurrence was 15%, metastasis occurred in 15% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Indications for this procedure are carcinoma of the upper part of the pyriform sinus and carcinoma of the laryngeal margin with normal vocal cord mobility.

Acoustic parameters and speech analysis after supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy

Selected characteristics of speech and voice were compared in 10 patients who had undergone supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy (SCHLP) and 20 normal adult laryngeal (NAL) speakers. Durational features of tape-recorded speech samples were measured using a stopwatch. Frequency features were analyzed with the Computerized Speech Lab and the multidimensional voice program. SCHLP speech proved comparable to NAL speech in average fundamental frequency, speech rate, and group phrasing. SCHLP speech and voice were statistically less efficient than NAL speech in fundamental frequency range, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and maximum phonation time. Age, associated cricopharyngeal myotomy, postoperative radiation therapy, and time elapsed from SCHLP completion were not statistically related to the speech and voice parameters of SCHLP speakers.

Analysis of survival after induction chemotherapy in pyriform sinus carcinoma

Three hundred seventy-one primary squamous cell carcinomas of the pyriform sinus were treated at Hôpital Laennec from 1970 through 1984 and retrospectively analyzed. The local and regional treatment consisted of initial surgical resection followed by postoperative radiotherapy. Forty-three patients were not treated by induction chemotherapy; 95 patients received preoperative chemotherapy with bleomycin as a single agent; 98 patients received three preoperative courses of vincristine, methotrexate, bleomycin, or endoxan, and 46 patients were treated by three courses of induction chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, bleomycin, methotrexate, or 5-fluorouracil. Seventy-two patients received less than 150 mg of bleomycin and 17 patients received only one or two cycles of multiple-agent chemotherapy. Survivals were higher when multiple-agent chemotherapy was employed as compared with single-agent induction chemotherapy. Further prospective investigations are necessary to confirm that induction chemotherapy enhances survival in pyriformk sinus cancers.