TRANSHYOID RESECTION OF TONGUE BASE AND TONSIL TUMORS

Advanced lesions of the oropharynx are known to have increased surviva l with surgical excision combined with radiation therapy. Traditional surgery involves either a mandibular resection or, more recently, a ma ndibular sparing approach primarily through a lip-splitting incision. At our institution posterior oropharyngeal lesions are approached via a combined intraoral and transhyoid technique. Nineteen sequential pro cedures using this approach were compared with a similar number of pre vious, stage-matched controls in an attempt to obtain valid comparable information. No significant difference between the groups was noted w ith respect to surgical margins. A significant difference was, however , seen with respect to the need for flap closure with none required in the transhyoid group and five in the mandibulotomy group. Furthermore , a statistical difference was observed with respect to the presence o f;significant complications in favor of the transhyoid group. These re sults indicate that similar cure rates can be achieved with lower morb idity by use of a transhyoid pharyngotomy approach to tumors of the or opharynx.