Salvage surgery for recurrence of hypopharyngeal carcinoma after definitive radiotherapy or chemoradio-therapy

The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of salvage surgery for patients with recurrent hypopharyngeal carcinoma after definitive radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). From April 2001 to August 2010, 101 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma underwent definitive RT or CRT at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Local recurrence developed in 35 patients (35%), of whom 24 patients underwent salvage surgery. The types of surgical procedures were as follows: total pharyngolaryngectomy: 20, partial pharyngectomy: 3, and endoscopic pharyngo-laryngo surgery (ELPS): 1. Three-year overall survival after salvage surgery was 60%. The median survival period was 38 months. Among these patients, postoperative complications occurred in 11 patients (46%). Salvage surgery for recurrent hypopharyngeal carcinoma after definitive RT or CRT is effective for not only for the patients' quality of life, but also for the improvement of prognosis.