Surgical approach of laryngofissure combined with epiglottis valley in treating locally-advanced pyriform sinus carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate feasibility and efficacy of surgical approach of laryngofissure combined with epiglottis valley in treating locally-advanced pyriform sinus carcinoma.

METHODS

Clinical data of 216 patients with T3 and T4a pyriform sinus carcinoma, who came from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between January 2013 and December 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. Three different types of surgery were used in these patients. Seventy-three patients were performed by approach of laryngofissure combined with epiglottis valley for partial laryngopharyngectomy (Group I); 75 patients were performed by approach of lateral pharynx for piriform fossa resection (Group II); 68 patients were performed by total laryngopharyngectomy (Group III). All patients were treated with radiotherapy and followed up regularly after operation. Kaplan-Meier regression model was used to analyze the overall survival rate. EAT-10 swallowing scale was utilized to evaluate the postoperative swallowing function, while the rate of tracheal tube extubation and the incidence of postoperative complications in each group were compared.

RESULTS

There were 76.7% patients with T3 stage in Group I, 100% patients with T3 stage in Group II, and 64.7% patients with T4a stage in Group III. There was significant difference between them (<0.01). Clinical stage IV patients in the Group I, Group II, and Group III were 74.0%, 54.7%, and 89.7%, respectively, with significant difference (<0.01). The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate in Group I, Group II, and Group III were 69.9%, 53.3%, and 58.8%, respectively. Patients in the Group I had a better survival outcome than that in the Group II (<0.05). The median score of EAT-10 swallowing scale was 12.0 in the Group I, 8.0 in Group II, and 5.0 in Group III, with significant difference (<0.01). There was no significant difference in the rate of tracheal tube extubation and the incidence of complication among the 3 groups (both 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical approach of laryngofissure combined with epiglottis valley in the treating locally-advanced piriform sinus carcinoma presents favorable outcome in terms of survival rate and laryngeal function preservation, which deserves to be promoted.