COMBINED SURGERY AND RADIATION-THERAPY FOR SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OFTHE HYPOPHARYNX

Squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx remains a highly lethal dis ease, This article documents our experience with 132 patients undergoi ng surgical management of squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, of whom 80% received postoperative radiation therapy, Local-regional c ontrol was obtained in 61% of the patients, Five-year overall and dise ase-free survival rates were 30% and 41%, respectively. Prognosis was better in patients with limited disease: local disease permitting lary nx-sparing surgery, N0/N1 clinical neck, and stage I/II/III disease. C ancer of the hypopharynx remains an aggressive entity associated with poor prognosis, Novel strategies stressing improved local-regional con trol with prevention of distant metastasis are warranted.