TUMORS OF THE POSTERIOR PHARYNGEAL WALL - THE USE OF THE PLATYSMA FLAP

Posterior pharyngeal wall tumours are infrequent neoplasms with a very poor prognosis. The 5 year survival rate ranges from 3% to 32%. Most authors agree that the treatment of choice is surgery with post-operat ive radiotherapy. The results of treatment of 36 patients (tumour exci sion plus bilateral neck dissection and post-operative radiotherapy) i n which the posterior pharyngeal wall defect was closed with a platysm a myocutaneous flap were compared with other forms of repair (13 patie nts). The 5 year survival rate was 17.2% in the whole group. Laryngeal voice was achieved in 79% of patients having a platysma Bap reconstru ction. The platysma myocutaneous flap is very satisfactory for the rep air of the posterior pharyngeal wall as it is easy to perform, it is o ncologically safe and its functional results match well with other for ms of reconstruction, with the advantage of laryngeal preservation.