Surgical management of carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in reconstructing hypopharynx and cervical esophagus with four kinds of operations. METHOD: Twenty one patients underwent reconstruction of the hypopharyngeal and cervical esophagus defect using contralateral hemilaryngeal mucosa flap, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, forearm free flap and jejunal free flap. RESULT: All of cases were successful. Postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistulas occurred in two patients, which resolved spontaneously. All of patients can swallow ordinary food and had no benign strictures after operation. CONCLUSION: Every operation style has advantage and disadvantage. We had to select the operation of choice depending upon the location and size of the carcinoma, perioperative complication.