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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

Laryngoscope 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

A 12-month-old male underwent injection laryngoplasty for dysphagia associated with a deep interarytenoid notch. He subsequently developed a large postcricoid mucocele requiring revision surgery and marsupialization of the cyst just 2 weeks following the initial surgery. Laryngoscope, 2018. Read More

Clin Otolaryngol 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, 410011.

The postcricoid space and pyriform sinus are difficult to completely display under routine laryngoscopy examination. We present the results obtained from 50 patients who were randomly recruited to receive a laryngoscopy examination via a routine, Valsalva manoeuvre combined with anterior cervical skin traction (V-ACST), followed by a Valsalva manoeuvre combined with the modified Killian method (V-MK). The routine method is not suitable for displaying the postcricoid space. Read More

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2018 Nov 7:3489418810893. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

1 Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.

Objectives:: The aim of this study is to describe a clinical entity the authors term "Shar Pei larynx," characterized by redundant supraglottic and postcricoid mucosa that the authors hypothesize coexists in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and obesity. By exploring this hypothesis, the authors hope to set the foundation for future research with the goal of identifying whether Shar Pei larynx is a marker for untreated sleep apnea or other diseases.

Study Design:: Retrospective chart review. Read More

Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Oct 5;22(4):443-448. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Department of Otorhinolaringology, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto Francisco Gentil EPE, Porto, Portugal.

 Hypopharyngeal tumors are head and neck malignancies associated with a great mortality rate, and the treatment of advanced lesions constitutes a challenging problem. Pharyngolaryngectomy continues to be the gold standard treatment modality for locally-advanced diseases, and it is currently used as the primary treatment or in cases of relapse after an organ preservation strategy.  This study aims to compare the survival rates of patients with advanced hypopharyngeal tumors treated with pharyngolaryngectomy as a primary or salvage option, and identify possible prognostic factors. Read More

Lasers Med Sci 2018 Sep 22. Epub 2018 Sep 22.

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been promoted for its beneficial effects on tissue healing and pain relief for skin and oral applications. However, there is no corresponding literature reporting on vocal fold wound healing. Our purpose was to assess the potential wound-healing effects of LLLT on primary human vocal fold epithelial cells (VFECs). Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2018 Aug;97(8):E52-E53

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Clin Otolaryngol 2018 Oct 21;43(5):1415-1418. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 May;53(5):359-363

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.

investigate the incidence of retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) metastasis and the risk factors for RPLN metastasis in hypopharyngeal cancer, and the relationship of planned dissection of the RPLN with the survival and tumor control rates in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. A total of 203 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent radical surgery as initial treatment from February 2011 to July 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 167 cases of pyriform sinus carcinoma, 23 cases of posterior pharyngeal wall carcinoma, and 13 cases of postcricoid carcinoma. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 May;53(5):346-351

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.

To investigate the key factors influencing the prognosis of hypopharyngeal carcinoma and the therapeutic methods improving the efficacy of treatments for hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Two hundred and sixty-four cases of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated from May 2010 to May 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 211 cases of pyriform sinus carcinoma, 37 cases of posterior pharyngeal wall carcinoma, and 16 cases of postcricoid carcinoma. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 Apr;53(4):298-301

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410010, China.

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 Apr;53(4):292-295

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.

To evaluate the usefullness of flexible esophagoscopy and chromoendoscopy with Lugol's solution in the detection of synchronous esophageal neoplasm in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). A retrospective review of 96 cases with HSCC that received surgical treatment from March 2016 to March 2017 was accomplished. In these patients, the site of origin were pyriform sinus (=75), posterior pharyngeal wall (=11) and postcricoid (=10). Read More

Dig Endosc 2018 Jul 26;30(4):516-521. Epub 2018 Apr 26.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.

Transoral endoscopy with narrow band imaging (NBI) is useful for early detection of head and neck (HN) cancer. However, the lateral and anterior walls of the oropharynx, postcricoid area, and posterior wall of the hypopharynx are difficult to observe using transoral endoscopy. Advanced cancers in these regions may be missed even when NBI is used. Read More

Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2017 12 22;2(6):390-394. Epub 2017 Nov 22.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Tottori University Faculty of Medicine Yonago Tottori Japan.

Objectives: To clarify the usefulness of ultrasonography for detecting hypopharyngeal cancer.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: The study included 95 patients who underwent pre-treatment ultrasonography. Read More

BMC Cancer 2017 12 29;17(1):904. Epub 2017 Dec 29.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine prognostic factors influencing outcomes of surgical treatment in patients with T4a hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: The present study enrolled 93 patients diagnosed with T4a hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent primary surgery between January 2005 and December 2015 at six medical centers in Korea. Primary tumor sites included pyriform sinus in 71 patients, posterior pharyngeal wall in 14 patients, and postcricoid region in 8 patients. Read More

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2018 Feb 6;120(2):211-212. Epub 2017 Dec 6.

Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California. Electronic address:

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Nov;96(44):e8500

aDepartment of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University bDepartment of Pathology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University cDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University dDepartment of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Rationale: Infantile desmoid fibromatosis of the postcricoid area is a rare disease and is characterized by a proliferation of fibrous tissue with non-metastasis, local infiltration, and a high rate of recurrence after surgical resection. Currently, ultrasound is scarcely used in the hypopharynx and larynx area.

Patient Concerns: A 4-year-old boy presented with hoarseness, deep voice and snoring for 2∼4 years without any surgical history. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2017 Jun 19;2017. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

ENT Department, Dubai Health Authority-Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

We present a case of large mass arising from the right pyriform sinus extending inferiorly to the postcricoid area and superiorly to the right aryepiglottic fold causing a foreign body sensation and obstructive symptoms, its histological examination following the endoscopic surgical excision showed a lipoma. We are also describing the endoscopic, radiological and intraoperative findings with a brief literature review. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2017 May;52(5):325-331

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.

To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of transoral surgery (TOS) for the treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma by means of the radiofrequency coblation(RFC). Twenty-two patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated with TOS using RFC during the years of 2010-2016 were enrolled. Among these patients, 15 suffered from pyriform sinus carcinoma, 4 suffered from postcricoid carcinoma, and 3 suffered from posterior hypopharyngeal wall carcinoma. Read More

J Assoc Physicians India 2017 Feb;65(2):96-97

Director, Institute of Digestive & Hepatobiliary Sciences , Medanta, Gurgaon, Haryana.

Patterson Brown Kelly or Plummer-Vinson syndrome is characterized by dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia and post-cricoidal esophageal web. Waldenstorm introduced the term 'sideropenic dysphagia' because of absence of stainable iron in the bone marrow. There is increased incidence of upper aero-digestive tract carcinoma in patients with Plummer-Vinson syndrome has been well established. Read More

Surg Radiol Anat 2017 Sep 27;39(9):975-979. Epub 2017 Feb 27.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University, Medical Office Tower (MOT), 9th Floor, 550 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30308, USA.

Introduction: Lateral pharyngotomy (LP) is a surgical procedure that allows exposure to tumors of the pharynx and supraglottic larynx. This study was undertaken to: (1) propose a classification system of LP used in exposing various sites of the oropharynx, supraglottis, and hypopharynx. (2) Describe the structures visible with each category of LP. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 01 31;128(1):283-289. Epub 2017 Jan 31.

Division of Thyroid and Parathyroid Endocrine Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Objective: Intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) of laryngeal nerves using electromyography (EMG) is routinely performed using endotracheal tube surface electrodes adjacent to the vocalis muscles. Other laryngeal muscles such as the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) are indirectly monitored. The PCA may be directly and reliably monitored through an electrode placed in the postcricoid region. Read More

Med J Malaysia 2016 12;71(6):360-362

Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) is generally a rare head and neck malignancy. There are differing clinical presentations depending on the subsite location of primary tumour. Advanced HPC will have neck node metastasis particularly upper jugulodigastric nodes. Read More

B-ENT 2017;13(1 Suppl 27):61-65

Stridor caused by.a blue laryngeal mass in an infant: case report. We describe an infant who had inspiratory stridor that began a few weeks after birth. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2016 Dec;30(24):1913-1917

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College.

To describe the therapeutic effect of transoral endoscopic minimally invasive surgery for hypopharyngeal postcricoidarea and upper esophageal lesions. Transoral endoscopic minimally invastive surgery was carried out in fifteen patients.There were 7 patients with primary tumors on the postcricoid area, including three squamous cell carcinoma（2 cases T2N0M0，1 case T2N2cM0），two cavernous hemangioma, one giant fibrovascular polyp and one recurrent lipofibroma. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 12 26;126(12):2744-2751. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Division of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Objectives/hypothesis: Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is a dreaded complication of endocrine surgery. Intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) has been increasingly utilized to assess the functional status of the RLN. Although the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) is innervated by the RLN as the abductor of the larynx, PCA electromyography (EMG) is infrequently recorded during IONM and PCA activity after RLN compressive injury remains poorly characterized. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2017 Jan 24;274(1):383-388. Epub 2016 Aug 24.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Shanghai Key Clinical Disciplines of Otorhinolaryngology), Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.

Ideal speech restoration remains a difficult challenge for patients undergoing laryngectomy so far. Our aim was to explore the feasibility of neoglottic reconstruction with sternohyoid muscles on upper-tracheal orifice after total laryngectomy which can obtain relatively ideal voice rehabilitation. Fifteen male patients are laryngectomized, of whom eight with standard total laryngectomy and seven underwent nonstandard total laryngectomy with epiglottis conserved. Read More

Laryngoscope 2017 03 24;127(3):685-690. Epub 2016 Aug 24.

Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A.

Objectives/hypothesis: To demonstrate that reconstructive transoral laser microsurgical (R-TLM) techniques can be used for the treatment of symptomatic laryngeal posterior glottic web-based stenosis (PGWS) in a large cohort of patients utilizing a postcricoid mucosal advancement flap (PCMAF).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort review.

Methods: A consecutive series of patients with PGWS who underwent R-TLM using a PCMAF were reviewed for outcomes. Read More

Endosc Int Open 2016 Jul 21;4(7):E752-5. Epub 2016 Jun 21.

Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan.

Background And Study Aims: Multiple squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) frequently arise in the upper aerodigestive tract, referred to as the field cancerization phenomenon. The aim of this study was to elucidate the detailed clinical features of second primary head and neck (H&N) SCCs arising in patients with esophageal SCC.

Patients And Methods: A total of 818 patients underwent endoscopic resection for superficial esophageal cancer between January 2006 and December 2013. Read More

Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol 2016 Sep 21;9(3):185-91. Epub 2016 Jul 21.

Department of ENT, Kunming City Children's Hospital, Kunming, China.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous (125)I seed permanent implantation for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma from toxicity, tumor response, and short-term outcome.

Methods: (125)I seeds implant procedures were performed under computed tomography for 34 patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma. We observed the local control rate, overall survival, and acute or late toxicity rate. Read More

Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg 2016 Jul-Aug;26(4):213-8

Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of İstanbul University, 34093 Fatih, Çapa, İstanbul, Turkey.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effect of paratracheal lymph node (PTLN) metastasis on survival in patients with advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Medical records of advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers who underwent surgery between May 1995 and June 2008 were assessed and 78 of the patients (63 males, 15 females; mean age 55±11.3 years; range 25 to 76 years) who has PTLN metastasis were included in this study. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2016 Jun;51(6):433-9

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: A retrospective review of the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University patients' database between January 2003 and June 2013 was conducted and a total of 386 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients' clinical and oncological information was collected and survival rates were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Read More

Auris Nasus Larynx 2017 Feb 2;44(1):122-125. Epub 2016 Jun 2.

Division of Radiation Oncology, Isesaki Municipal Hospital, Isesaki, Gunma, Japan.

Presently, the relationship between laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and radiation-induced mucositis has not been fully explored. In the present study, we report 2 cases of laryngeal cancer in which radiation-induced mucositis ameliorated after proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration. Case 1 was diagnosed with T1aN0M0 right glottis carcinoma and was treated with radiation therapy. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 08 24;126(8):1783-9. Epub 2016 Mar 24.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.

Objectives/hypothesis: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for hypopharyngeal cancer results in a lower incidence of complications than conventional open surgery. However, additional knowledge regarding the histoanatomical characteristics of the hypopharynx is necessary to prevent severe complications during TLM. The purpose of this study is to investigate the histoanatomical characteristics of the hypopharynx for TLM. Read More

Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol 2016 Mar 7;9(1):70-4. Epub 2016 Mar 7.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Objectives: Endoscopic laryngopharyngeal surgery (ELPS) is a minimally invasive transoral surgery that was developed to treat superficial larygo-pharyngeal cancer, in which a mucosal lesion is resected transorally while preserving deeper structures by subepithelial injection. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate voice outcome in patients who underwent ELPS for superficial hypopharyngeal cancer. As important structures in producing voice, such as intrinsic laryngeal muscles, their fascia, and recurrent laryngeal nerve, are located in the medial side of the piriform sinus and the postcricoid region of the hypopharynx, we focused on patients with cancer lesions involving these regions. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016 Mar 9;154(3):568-71. Epub 2016 Feb 9.

Division of Laryngology, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.

Posterior glottic stenosis is a difficult clinical problem that frequently results in bilateral vocal fold immobility, dyspnea, and tracheostomy dependence. Charts were reviewed of all patients undergoing a modified endoscopic postcricoid advancement flap procedure for posterior glottic stenosis between October 1, 2003, and June 30, 2015. Age, sex, operative findings, complications, and outcomes were noted. Read More

J Voice 2017 Jan 18;31(1):129.e15-129.e18. Epub 2016 Jan 18.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.. Electronic address:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the nature of laryngeal schwannomas through review of the experience of a single institution during a 104-year period.

Study Design: This is a retrospective case series.

Methods: The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota clinical and surgical pathology database was reviewed for the years 1985-2011. Read More

Gastrointest Endosc 2016 Jun 2;83(6):1277. Epub 2015 Dec 2.

Baldota Institute of Digestive Sciences, Global Hospitals, Mumbai, India.

Turk J Gastroenterol 2016 Jan 27;27(1):81-2. Epub 2015 Nov 27.

Department of Internal Medicine, Bezmialem Vakıf University Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is characterized by the presence of postcricoid dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia, and upper esophageal web. This syndrome is now a rare condition because of the improvement in nutritional status and increased awareness regarding iron deficiency anemia and the early diagnosis and easy treatment of this anemia or underlying causes. In this presentation, we report two middle-aged female patients with PVS and briefly review the literature. Read More

Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho 2015 Sep;118(9):1118-23

We have performed transoral surgical resection for patients with T1/T2 hypopharyngeal cancer and induction chemotherapy with docetaxel for patients with T2/T3 disease. The patients were analyzed in order to determine the current situation of larynx preservation in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. The data of a total of 83 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Read More

Case Rep Med 2015 17;2015:806857. Epub 2015 Sep 17.

San Antonio Military Medical Center Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA ; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.

Objectives. (1) Report the case of a 5-year-old female with trichotillomania and trichophagia that suffered airway compromise during esophagogastroduodenoscopy for removal of a trichobezoar. (2) Provide management recommendations for an unusual foreign body causing extubation and partial airway obstruction. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2015 Apr;29(7):597-600

Objective: By studying the MRI apperances of postcricoid area invaded by laryngeal carcinoma, to identify the characteristic appearances of the invaded postcricoid area and to provide information on the early detection of the lesions.

Method: Eighteen cases of MRI images of postcricoid area invaded by laryngeal carcinoma were included in this study. To find out the characteristic manifestation of the lesions, the destructions of surrounding structures and layers, and the invaded extent were observed. Read More

Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2015 Jun 14;4(2):85-8. Epub 2015 Jan 14.

Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Background And Objectives: Total thyroidectomy is indicated in most cases with postcricoid carcinoma, circumferential hypopharyngeal carcinoma and in advanced laryngeal carcinoma. Persistent hypoparathyroidism is a frequent complication after total thyroidectomy which is difficult to manage unlike hypothyroidism. This study was to assess the feasibility of parathyroid gland autotranplantation after total thyroidectomy in advanced carcinomas and their effectiveness in preventing persistent hypoparathyroidism. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2014 Oct-Nov;93(10-11):E32-7

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, 325 Cheng-Kung Rd., Section 2, Taipei 114, Taiwan, Republic of China.

We report a unique case of synchronous double hypopharyngeal tumors in a 39-year-old man. The patient presented with a 1-year history of a muffled voice and mild odynophagia. Laryngoscopy detected two grossly different tumors in the hypopharynx: a malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) in the postcricoid area and a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the posterior pharyngeal wall. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2014 Oct-Nov;93(10-11):E26-8

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Southern California, 1540 Alcazar St., Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90033.

Hemangiomas of the postcricoid region have been reported almost exclusively in infants and young children. Our adult patient with symptoms of dysphagia and weight loss underwent transoral CO2 laser microsurgery of a postcricoid mass, and final pathologic examination confirmed the presence of a hemangioma. She is doing well after surgery, with an excellent voice, resolution of dysphagia, and no evidence of recurrence. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2014 Jul;49(7):553-7

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.

Objective: To investigate the necessity and feasibility of planned dissection of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLN) in advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: Between February 2011 and December 2012, 54 patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer accepted planned dissection of the RPLN during primary surgery. There were 45 cases of pyriform sinus carcinoma, 5 cases of posterior pharyngeal wall carcinoma, and 4 cases of postcricoid carcinoma. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2014 Jul;49(7):533-8

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China. Email:

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and the prognostic factors affecting the results of treatment in hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: A retrospective review of 149 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma that received surgical treatment from Jun 2003 to Jun 2010 was accomplished. In the 149 patients, the site of origin were pyriform sinus (n = 121), posterior pharyngeal wall (n = 21) and postcricoid (n = 7). Read More

Support Care Cancer 2015 Feb 17;23(2):457-62. Epub 2014 Aug 17.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan,

Purpose: We aimed to identify tumor- and treatment-related factors predicting gastrostomy tube dependence after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients with hypopharyngeal cancer treated with CCRT between 2002 and 2012 except for those with residual or recurrent disease at evaluation. The incidence of gastrostomy tube dependence, defined as complete or almost complete dependence on tube feeding, at 6 months after the completion of treatment was the endpoint. Read More

Laryngoscope 2015 Feb 23;125(2):356-9. Epub 2014 Jul 23.

Department of Surgical Oncology, Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Hyderabad, India.

Introduction: Postcricoid carcinoma in India, is seen especially in middle-aged females. Surgical treatment for postcricoid carcinoma has reduced because of increased organ-preserving nonsurgical strategies. Surgical intervention leads to morbidity in the form of laryngectomy. Read More

Laryngoscope 2014 Nov 10;124(11):2583-5. Epub 2014 Jul 10.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.

Laryngeal abscesses are rare but potentially life-threatening infections due to potential airway obstruction. Most abscesses occur in the epiglottis or preepiglottic space as a sequela of acute supraglottitis. Abscesses in the posterior larynx are extremely rare and typically due to instrumentation or trauma. Read More