Hypopharyngeal Cancer: Oncological Results After Primary Surgery

Objective: The main objective of this study was to analyze the oncological results and survival outcome in primarily surgically treated patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. Methods: A total of 95 patients, who underwent primary open surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, were retrospectively reviewed during the period of 5 years following surgery. Overall and disease-free 5-year survival rates were measured, and potential prognostic factors influencing survival outcome were analyzed. Results: Patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma were usually diagnosed in advanced tumor-T stages: 73.7% as opposed to 26.3% in early T stages. Positive lymph node metastases (N+) were present in 80% of the patients. Overall 5-year survival rate was 44.2% and the 5-year disease-free survival was 41.7%. In the follow-up, a recurrence was observed in 36 (37.9%) patients, while 16 (16.8%) subjects developed a second primary tumor. The overall 5-year survival was significantly shortened in patients with N+ neck (39.5% opposed to 63.2% in N0; P=.047) and in those who developed a disease recurrence (25% opposed to 55.93% in those without recurrence; P=.022), especially those with locoregional neck lymph node and distant metastases (18.51% opposed to 54.41% in those without metastases; P=.001). Conclusion: Hypopharyngeal cancer is usually presented in advanced stages. Primary surgical approach of these carcinomas enables satisfactory oncological results. The initial N+ neck, as well as the presence of disease relapse, especially neck and distant metastases, represents a negative prognostic factor of 5-year survival rate in patients with primarily surgically treated hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Cite this article as: Jović RM, Dragičević D, Čanji K, et al. Hypopharyngeal cancer: Oncological results after primary surgery. B-ENT 2022;18(3):176-183.