Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Clin Med 2019 Feb 18;8(2). Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Humanitas University, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, 20089 Rozzano, Italy.

The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to investigate the available literature on transoral approaches in the treatment of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, with a special focus on transoral robotic surgery (TORS). A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) check-list, and 15 studies were included. Five of the included studies evaluated TORS, while ten studies focused on transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for the treatment of early or advanced stage hypopharyngeal cancer. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Otolaryngology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Background: Organ preservation protocols have increasingly been applied for the treatment of head and neck cancers, including hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). We sought to evaluate whether patients treated with primary surgery followed by adjuvant therapy had survival benefit over patients treated with initial nonsurgical modalities.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with new diagnosis of HSCC at the University of Pittsburgh (1994-2014) treated with either primary total laryngectomy with pharyngectomy or organ preservation. Read More

Molecules 2019 Feb 14;24(4). Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA.

The in vitro efficacy of cancer prodrugs varies significantly between malignant cell lines. The most commonly identified problems relate to delivery: uptake mechanism, endosomal entrapment, and drug release. Here we present the study of collagen/cell penetrating hybrid (COL/CPP) peptide carriers intended to deliver paclitaxel to the hypopharyngeal carcinoma (FaDu) cells. Read More

Adv Otorhinolaryngol 2019 12;83:118-125. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department ENT Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Advances in and intensification of treatment in hypopharyngeal cancer have led to an increase in organ preservation and in overall survival. Treatment intensification comes at the cost of more pronounced acute and long-term side effects causing functional impairments in voice and swallowing. Swallowing and voice problems have a significant impact on communication, eating and nutrition, social well-being and quality of life. Read More

Adv Otorhinolaryngol 2019 12;83:109-117. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer depends on the extent and location of the tumour, patient-specific or by factors (age, performance status, co-morbidity) and the presence of psychosocial support. Options available for the treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer consist of surgery and non-surgery - radiotherapy, chemoradiation, bioradiation, or a combination of these modalities. To maintain normal functioning as much as possible, functional organ preservation is widely recommended and generally utilizes radiotherapy and/or chemoradiation. Read More

Adv Otorhinolaryngol 2019 12;83:76-89. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The

The management of hypopharyngeal cancer is challenging because of poor patient survival and the potential effects of treatment on breathing, voice and swallowing. In general, early stage hypopharyngeal cancer can be primarily treated by radiotherapy or conservative transoral or open surgery, whereas advanced stage hypopharyngeal cancer can be treated by non-surgical protocols if the patient has no loss of functions (dysfunctional larynx) and/or cartilage invasion (T4a). Factors to determine individualized patient treatment include resectability, tumour volume, distant metastases, comorbidity, age, patient's preference, functional imaging parameters, response on induction chemotherapy and employing functional imaging parameters performed in the pre-treatment phase and repeated in the early treatment phase when employing a non-surgical treatment strategy. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Feb 9. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Background: There are currently no data predicting chemosensitivity of induction chemotherapy (ICT) for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).

Methods: Associations between immune cells and overall response (OR) to ICT and changes in immune cells during ICT were observed in 40 patients with hypopharyngeal SCC undergoing ICT.

Results: CD4 and CD8 T-cell and regulatory T-cell (Treg) frequencies reached diagnostic accuracy for OR to ICT. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 7;9(1):1618. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Serum neutrophil-to-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) is a potential predictive and prognostic marker in head and neck cancers. This study aimed to determine the role of pretreatment serum NLR in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. We retrospectively investigated the correlation between clinicopathological parameters and NLR status and analysed its impact on therapeutic response and survival. Read More

Oral Oncol 2019 Feb 27;89:84-94. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ilsong Memorial Institute of Head and Neck Cancer, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes for stage III/IV locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), comparing induction chemotherapy followed by (chemo)radiotherapy (ICT), definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery-based therapy (SRT).

Subjects And Methods: Two hundred sixty-six patients with stage III/IV locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who underwent ICT (n = 74), CRT (n = 53) or SRT (n = 139) from 1997 through 2014 at the Seoul National University Hospital (n = 127) and the Hallym University Medical Center (n = 139) were enrolled in the study. All surgical procedures in the SRT group were performed by a single surgeon to eliminate surgeon bias. Read More

Front Oncol 2019 22;9. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Head and Neck Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.

Induction chemotherapy (IC) is a treatment option for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN). However, treatment with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU (TPF) followed by cisplatin and radiotherapy is controversial because of toxicity concerns. The aim of this phase II study was to assess the feasibility of docetaxel, cisplatin, and cetuximab (TPEx) followed by cetuximab and concurrent radiotherapy for LA SCCHN. Read More

Acta Otolaryngol 2018 Dec 28;138(12):1136-1145. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

b Department of Pathology , Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University , Shanghai , China.

Background: The extent of surgical safety margin remained unclear in hypopharyngeal carcinoma surgery.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of surgical margin status on the outcomes of patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed in 205 patients with stage III/IV hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated by primary surgery between January 2005 and December 2014. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.

Background: To analyze the prognostic value of the clinicopathological parameters of primary lesions for predicting cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with hypopharyngeal and/or supraglottic carcinoma.

Methods: We enrolled 127 patients with squamous cell carcinomas originating in the hypopharyngeal and/or supraglottic regions.

Results: Multivariate analysis identified the tumor depth as an independent predictive factor for lymph node metastasis (odds ratio, 4. Read More

Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Dec 28. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

All India Institute Of Medical sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, New Delhi, India.

Introduction: Laryngeal lesions are usually evaluated by microlaryngoscopy/direct laryngoscopy under anaesthesia for disease mapping and tissue diagnosis. However patients with anticipated airway compromise due to laryngeal mass may require either a protective tracheotomy or emergency tracheotomy to secure the airway. To minimise risk of unplanned tracheotomy and expedite the diagnosis we performed ultrasound-guided transcutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology. Read More

Cancer Res 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

ONCOLOGY, University of Oxford

Abnormal pH is a common feature of malignant tumours and has been associated clinically with sub-optimal outcomes. Amide proton transfer magnetic resonance imaging (APT MRI) holds promise as a means to non-invasively measure tumour pH, yet multiple factors collectively make quantification of tumour pH from APT MRI data challenging. The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the biophysical sources of altered APT MRI signals in tumours. Read More

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2019 Jan 25;20(1):91-96. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

SLP Head and Neck Department, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos-SP, Brazil. Email:

Objective: To evaluate the effect of induction chemotherapy on swallowing and swallowing-related quality of life of patients with oropharyngeal, laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. Study design: Prospective study of 33 patients with locally advanced tumors who were eligible for treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy. A multidimensional assessment of swallowing was performed using the following tools: (1) Clinical analysis, numerical scale for general pain and painful swallowing, American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) Functional Communication Measures (FCM) swallowing assessment scales, (2) assessment of Swallowing-Related Quality of Life (The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory - MDADI), and (3) swallowing videofluoroscopy. Read More

Oncol Lett 2019 Feb 14;17(2):2457-2464. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive cancer. Early detection and management of HNSCC may prevent progression of the disease. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may serve as prognostic biomarkers for various cancer types. Read More

Clin Med Insights Oncol 2019 7;13:1179554918821320. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.

Introduction: Cisplatin is used as treatment for several different malignancies and a well-known complication is irreversible kidney damage. To protect the kidneys, this treatment is often combined with mannitol infusion to promote osmotic diuresis. Earlier studies investigating the nephroprotective effect of mannitol have shown conflicting results. Read More

Acta Otolaryngol 2018 Dec 21;138(12):1146-1153. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

a Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Beijing Tongren Hospital , Beijing , China.

Backgroud: Induction chemotherapy, as a larynx preservation treatment, has been available for over 20 years. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy of this protocol with taxene, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in Chinese patients with hypopharyngeal cancer that chose preservation strategy.

Material And Methods: 170 patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer were assigned to receive induction chemotherapy. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) dissection in the surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2016, 98 previously untreated patients with pathological diagnosed hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma underwent total pharyngolaryngectomy and bilateral neck dissection at Kobe University Hospital. Bilateral dissection of RPLN was simultaneously performed in all patients. Read More

Oral Oncol 2019 Jan 24;88:124-130. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Purpose: Extranodal extension (ENE) is a criterion for advanced nodal staging of oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Our aim was to determine if ENE should be a staging criterion for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials & Methods: MRI of 546 NPC patients were reviewed retrospectively and in 404/546 (74. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck surgery, ErasmusMC Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Purpose: This study aimed at determining the importance of an elective neck dissection (END) in case of a cN0 laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma after (chemo) radiation.

Methods: Retrospective review was made of patients treated in a single tertiary center between 2002 and 2014. Influence of an END in case of a cN0 salvage laryngectomy on complications, recurrence-free survival and disease-specific survival was assessed. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre Léon Bérard, 69373, Lyon, France.

Purpose: The importance of occupational exposures in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) has received little attention.

Methods: In a single-center study, we prospectively characterized occupational exposures in 154 HNSCC cancer patients in a systematic occupational consultation and examined the association between most frequent exposures, HNSCC stage and localization.

Results: Patients occupied a mean of 3. Read More

Am Surg 2018 Dec;84(12):1927-1931

Hypopharynx carcinoma tends to be diagnosed at advanced stage and usually has a poor prognosis because of the high incidence of submucosal spreading and lymphatic metastasis. Total pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy (PLE) is mostly used as a curative intervention for this deadly disease, and a commonly used reconstruction method after PLE is gastric pull-up, which could be further divided into tubular gastric pull-up and whole gastric pull-up procedures. Aiming to achieve a precise guidance on optimal reconstruction method after PLE, the present study evaluated the postoperative complications involving in different gastric pull-up procedures in patients with hypopharynx cancer. Read More

BMC Cancer 2019 Jan 3;19(1). Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan.

Background: Metachronous cancer in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is common and is associated with a poor prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of metachronous cancer at different sites according to age at diagnosis of index HNC.

Methods: We collected data on 2011 patients with oral cancer, oropharynx cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, and laryngeal cancer as index cancers using the Osaka International Cancer Institute Cancer Registry database between 2005 and 2016. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Dec 28. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: Early detection of esophageal secondary primary tumors (SPTs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients could increase patient survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic yield of esophageal SPTs using Lugol chromoendoscopy.

Methods: A systematic review of all available databases was performed to find all Lugol chromoendoscopy screening studies. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Mar 28;41(3):692-700. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

Background: Socioeconomic status plays an important role in the incidence and prognosis of many cancers. We examined the relationship between social deprivation and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing major surgery for head and neck cancer.

Methods: A retrospective population-based observational study was performed. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2018 Dec 27;6(1):156. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Allergy, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Background: The prevalence of esophageal stenosis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors in the context of induced immune mucositis and esophagitis is extremely rare.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a patient with stage IV pulmonary adenocarcinoma treated for 6 months with nivolumab who developed bilateral sterile conjunctivitis followed by oropharyngeal mucositis and esophagitis complicated by a severe esophageal stenosis. The laryngeal margin and hypopharyngeal mucosa appeared highly inflammatory with fibrinous deposits. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 Dec;53(12):918-924

Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Liaoning Tumour Hospital, Shenyang 110042, China.

To evaluate the efficacies of different treatment modalities for patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancers, which were treated by induction chemotherapy and surgery combined with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. A retrospective analysis was performed on the complete clinical and follow-up data of 92 patients with pathologically confirmed hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated at Liaoning Tumor Hospital from January 2011 to December 2016. The tumor clinical staging was as follows: stage Ⅱ in 3 cases, stage Ⅲ in 33 cases, and stage Ⅳ in 56 cases. Read More

Clin Otolaryngol 2018 Dec 22. Epub 2018 Dec 22.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Objectives: To assess the impact of age on the survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using different statistical methods.

Design: A retrospective population-based study.

Setting: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Mar 20;41(3):569-576. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.

Background: Hypopharyngeal carcinoma is relatively rare, representing approximately 3% of all head and neck malignancies. It also is characterized by having one of the worst prognoses at time of diagnosis. This is largely due to its tendency for late presentation. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.

Objectives/hypothesis: Analyze the characteristics of second primary lung malignancies (SPLMs) following an index head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was queried for all cases of HNSCC between 1973 and 2014 (N = 101,856). Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Purpose: We aimed to analyze the oncological and functional outcomes of chemoradiation for T4 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: Patients treated between 2008 and 2015 with chemoradiation (n = 39) were retrospectively analyzed for oncological and functional (laryngo-esophageal dysfunction-free survival, LED-FS) outcomes and compared with 32 consecutive patients treated primarily with total laryngectomy (TL). LED was scored as event in case of local failure, TL for any reason, persistent tracheotomy and/or feeding tube dependency 2 years after chemoradiation. Read More

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.

Background And Aim: Simultaneous and metachronous head and neck cancers are likely to develop in patients with current or previous esophageal cancer. The Valsalva maneuver facilitates the visualization of the hypopharyngeal area during endoscopic observation, but it requires transnasal endoscopy. We developed a novel Valsalva maneuver using transoral endoscopy with a lip cover-type mouthpiece. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.

Background: The C-reactive protein/albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio has been recently established as a prognostic indicator in various cancer types. However, few reports regarding the prognostic value of the CRP/Alb ratio in head and neck cancer exist. This study aimed to investigate the significance of the CRP/Alb ratio in clinical outcomes after invasive surgery involving laryngectomy for hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 Oct;32(19):1511-1514

Two cases with piriform fossa cancer underwent larynx lateral wall repair surgery. Case 1: The patient was admitted to the hospital because of pharyngeal discomfort with swallowing pain for 2 months Electronic laryngoscopy revealed neoplasm in the left piriform fossa. Space occupying lesion in left piriform fossa and paranasal space was found in MRI scan. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Jan 10;41(1):103-109. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Radiation Therapeutics and Oncology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: This study investigates the prognostic value of metabolic tumor burden calculated using dual-time-point 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT in patients with locally advanced cancer.

Methods: This study examines 42 patients (35 men and 7 women, 38-73 years old) with locally advanced oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer who had undergone FDG-PET/CT before receiving chemoradiotherapy. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUV ), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured for the early and delayed phases. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Mar 7;41(3):739-747. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Background: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the usefulness of pretreatment positron emission tomography (PET) using metabolic tumor volume (MTV) of the primary tumor and lymph nodes in advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: From June 2007 to December 2015, consecutive patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent PET and were treated with definitive radiation therapy were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: A total of 61 patients were eligible for this study. Read More

Oncol Rep 2019 Feb 6;41(2):863-874. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China.

Laryngeal carcinoma is one of the most common tumors concerning otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery, however, the pathogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma remains unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play vital roles in the pathogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma Herein, the present study was designed to explore the function and mechanism of miRNA‑98 in hypopharyngeal carcinoma. In brief, qRT‑PCR, MTT assay, western blot analysis, Transwell assay and luciferase reporter assay were performed. Read More

Oral Oncol 2018 Dec 3;87:131-137. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Radiation Oncology Department, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.

Target volume selection and delineation for both the primary tumor and the lymph nodes are critical steps in the treatment of head and neck tumors with Intensity Modulated Radiation therapy (IMRT). These steps should be based on a probabilistic approach, which is that selection and delineation will be considered as optimal when reaching the best compromise between a too tight volume that could be associated to an unacceptable rate of local recurrence, and a too large volume, which could be associated to an unacceptable rate of treatment morbidity. Failure to do so have been reported to be associated to a higher risk of loco-regional recurrences and/or morbidity after treatment. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Jan 3;41(1):16-29. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 200 Elizabeth Street, 8th Floor 8NU 881, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2C4.

Background: Surgeons have developed various reconstructive techniques to minimize the rate of pharyngocutaneous fistula and optimize functional outcome after salvage laryngectomy or laryngopharyngectomy.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective review at 33 institutions of 486 patients with a history of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx or hypopharynx previously treated with primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT) who required salvage surgery. Outcomes evaluated were overall fistula rate, fistula requiring reoperation, and 12-month speech and swallowing function. Read More

Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Purpose Of Review: To appraise the practice and role of open-neck organ preserving surgery for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to update the current indications, techniques, limits, and outcomes.

Recent Findings: The role of primary surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma has shifted over the past two decades to primary nonsurgical management with the use of induction or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The preferred and most suitable tumours for open-neck surgery are the small-volume T stage diseases, with small to medium-volume neck metastases, however such patients are exceedingly rare. Read More

Indian J Plast Surg 2018 May-Aug;51(2):190-195

Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, Kerala, India.

Background: Pharyngeal reconstruction is a challenging aspect of reconstruction after resections for head-and-neck cancer. The goals of reconstruction are to restore the continuity of the pharyngeal passage to enable oral alimentation and rehabilitation of speech wherever possible. This study was performed to determine the outcomes following pharyngeal reconstruction in total laryngectomy (TL) using different reconstructive options and to determine the predictors of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) and swallowing dysfunction. Read More

J Clin Med 2018 Dec 3;7(12). Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 06273, Republic of Korea.

Background: To investigate the prognostic value of pre-treatment neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 621 patients who received definitive RT for nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer. An NLR cut-off value of 2. Read More

Clin Otolaryngol 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Edinburgh, UK.

Cancer Med 2018 Dec 26;7(12):5889-5900. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Ewha Womans University Graduate School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives: To compare overall survival (OS) in locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer treated with surgery or definitive chemoradiotherapy in the contemporary era.

Methods: From 2010 to 2015, data for patients diagnosed with hypopharyngeal cancer (T2-T4aM0) and treated with total pharyngectomy with lymph node dissection (surgery group) or definitive radiotherapy and chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy group) was retrieved from the SEER database. Multivariate analyses were performed in each subgroup divided according to T category (T2-3 or T4a). Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 Jan;145(1):62-70

Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.

Importance: A volume-outcome association exists for larynx cancer surgery, but to date it has not been investigated for specific surgical procedures.

Objectives: To characterize the volume-outcome association specifically for laryngectomy surgery and to identify a minimum hospital volume threshold associated with improved outcomes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this cross-sectional study, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify 45 156 patients who underwent laryngectomy procedures for a malignant laryngeal or hypopharyngeal neoplasm between January 2001 and December 2011. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2019 Mar;43(3):303-313

Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common cancer of the head and neck region including-among others-laryngeal (LSCC) and hypopharyngeal (HSCC) subsites. LSCC/HSCC are heterogenous diseases with respect to patient outcome. Currently, tumor stage-based patient stratification is essential to predict prognosis and thus selection of the appropriate treatment modalities. Read More

Surg Oncol 2018 Dec 11;27(4):767-772. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Institut Universitaire de la Face et du Cou, 31 avenue de Valombrose, 06103, Nice, France. Electronic address:

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of total pharyngolaryngectomy (TPL) in the elderly and to analyze the impact of age on postoperative complications and oncologic and functional outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of all patients who underwent TPL for a laryngeal or hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, between 2000 and 2015. The impact of advanced age (>70 years) on clinical outcomes was assessed in univariate and multivariate analyses. Read More

Cancer Manag Res 2018 10;10:4679-4688. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China,

Purpose: To analyze the potential variables affecting the survival of patients undergoing primary surgery for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Between August 2007 and December 2016, 93 patients with primary hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas undergoing radical surgery at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were reviewed. The clinicopathological features were analyzed retrospectively. Read More