Planned neck dissection before combined chemoradiation for pyriform sinus carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

A pretreatment neck dissection in a chemoradiation regimen for pyriform sinus carcinoma provides no delay for radiation, low complication rates, optimal radiation doses and a high nodal disease control.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical feasibility, therapeutic consequences and neck nodes control of a pretreatment neck dissection in a chemoradiation regimen for organ preservation strategy for pyriform sinus carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seventy-six patients with untreated stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus were included in this study. Eighty neck dissections were performed according to the N status. Dose of radiotherapy was delivered according to the pathologic finding of neck dissections.

RESULTS

The mean time between neck dissection and the chemoradiation was 24 days (+/-12 days). Only two patients (2.5%) experienced wound complications. A 'boost' radiation of 14 Gy was delivered after 49 neck dissections (61%) in patients with extracapsular spread. The rate of disease control within the regional nodes was 90%. The Kaplan-Meier 1- and 2- year overall survival rates were 78% and 43%, respectively, and specific survival rates were 88% and 67%, respectively.