Abstract
Objectives:
Despite improvements in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, hypopharyngeal cancer has one of the worst prognoses of head and neck malignant disease. In this study, the efficacy of salvage treatment of recurrent hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (Hypo SCC) after primary curative treatment was evaluated.
Methods:
The management outcome of 49 patients who had recurrent Hypo SCC between January 2002 and December 2010 at Kyushu University Hospital was reviewed.
Results:
The mean time of detection of recurrence from the initial treatment was 10 months (range:2-61 months). The total salvage rates of recurrence were 45% (local: 89%, nodal: 29%, distant: 17%). The 1 and 3-year tumor-free actuarial survival rates of those patients who received salvage treatment were 96% and 79%. There was no 3-year survivor of any patient without salvage treatment.
Conclusions:
There was a moderate chance of cure after surgical salvage of recurrent Hypo SCC. However, surgical salvage was only feasible for early recurrent tumor. Close follow-up surveillance of early recurrence is essential after primary treatment of patients.
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