PULL-THROUGH OROPHARYNGECTOMY IN ADVANCED-STAGE MALIGNANT-TUMORS

Surgery is the first therapeutic option in extensive oropharyngeal car cinomas. An operation to treat these tumours is described, based on th e hemiglossopelvectomy without mandibulectomy technique. Tumours locat ed in the oropharynx are resected downwards by a modified pull-through approach, performing the resection of the oropharyngeal tumour in mon oblock with the ipsilateral neck dissection, avoiding any action upon the mandible. The operation has been performed in 14 consecutive patie nts. By avoiding either mandibulotomy or mandibulectomy, morbidity and post-operative recovery are improved.