An evaluation of the results of chemoradiotherapy and surgical treatment for hypopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVES:This study aims to evaluate the efficacy chemoradiotherapy and surgical treatment in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS:Between January 2003 and July 2009, 48 patients (31 males, 17 females; mean age 55.5±13.4 years; range 29 to 84 years) who were diagnosed with hypopharyngeal cancer were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were assigned into surgery (n=17) and chemoradiotherapy (n=31) groups. RESULTS:The overall survival of the patients with advanced disease in the surgery group was statistically higher than those in the chemoradiotherapy group. The recurrence rate of the patients was 35.3% in the surgery group, whereas it was 41.4% in the chemoradiotherapy group. CONCLUSION:Our study results indicated that the survival rates were higher in the surgery group. On the other hand, chemoradiotherapy had the advantage of laryngeal preservation.