[Current role of total esopharyngo-laryngectomy in cervico-facial cancerology. Apropos of 11 cases].

Eleven patients underwent total esophagopharyngolaryngectomy for cancer, with colic or gastric digestive reconstructive surgery. Postoperative course is analyzed, contraindications and indications outlined and other methods of pharyngeal reconstruction discussed. An extension to the technique is proposed to include tumors requiring a circular pharyngolaryngectomy. Improvement in the very poor prognosis of these tumors can only be envisaged by the use of enlarged surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.