Modified laryngotracheal separation for intractable aspiration pneumonia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by radiotherapy

Intractable postradiotherapeutic aspiration pneumonia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was possibly caused by lower cranial nerve palsy, which might be related to radiation fields overlapped. Modified laryngotracheal separation is effective in eliminating intractable aspiration in PNC. Suitable patients should be carefully selected although the procedure is potentially reversible.