Supraglottic hemilaryngopharyngectomy plus radiation for the treatment of early lateral margin and pyriform sinus carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Supraglottic hemilaryngopharyngectomy is a functional procedure suitable for the treatment of carcinoma of the upper part of the pyriform sinus and carcinoma of the lateral laryngeal margin. It consists of resection of the supraglottic hemilarynx and ipsilateral pyriform sinus.

METHODS: Forty-nine patients underwent this procedure from 1979 through 1994. The median age was 51 (40-72). The data were collected by a review of patients' records.

RESULTS: Two patients died in the postoperative period. The average time of removal of the nasogastric tube was 14 days. The survival rate at 3 years was 52% and at 5 years, 47%. The local recurrence rate was 2%, the overall neck recurrence was 15%, metastasis occurred in 15% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS: Indications for this procedure are carcinoma of the upper part of the pyriform sinus and carcinoma of the laryngeal margin with normal vocal cord mobility.