Carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus

Abstract

A retrospective review of 67 patients of carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus treated at Kurume University Hospital from 1971 to 1980 was completed. Fifty-four patients underwent curative treatments and 13 were subjected to palliative treatments. The results of this retrospective studies are summarized as follows: (1) In the 54 patients of curative treatments, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates calculated by the actuarial method were 39.0 % and 25.4 %, respectively. (2) The more advanced the disease was, the lower the survival rate. (3) Of 35 deaths in the curative treatment group, the cause of death was primary lesion in 4, neck metastasis in 8, distant metastasis in 8, surgery in 5, complication in 6, unknown in 1 and intercurrent disease in 4. (4) Pre-operative radiation did not result in improvement in the survival rate. (5) Application of Bleomycin did not reduce the development of distant metastasis. (6) With respect to reconstruction of the food channel, the technique which employed a secondary procedure with the use of hinge flap and DP flap yielded the best results. © 1982, Kurume University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.