Oncological results of salvage treatment in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to analyse the variables related to the feasibility of salvage surgery with radical intention in patients with a local recurrence of hypopharyngeal carcinoma, and to evaluate the oncological performance of this type of surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 96 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma with local tumour recurrence RESULT: Only 27 patients (28.1%) were considered for surgical salvage treatment. The variables related to feasibility of salvage surgery were non-surgical initial treatment of the tumour and a disease-free interval greater than 6 months. All 69 patients non-candidates for salvage surgery died as a result of tumour progression in a period of less than 2.5 years. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate for the patients treated with salvage surgery was 39.5%. The only variable significantly related to disease-specific survival was the status of the resection margins. Patients with extensive tumour recurrence (rT3-T4) or with simultaneous nodal involvement had a lower survival rate, but the differences did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Only 28% of the patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma with local recurrence of the tumour were eligible for salvage surgery with radical intention. The patients treated with salvage surgery had a 5 -year disease-specific survival of 39.5%.