Pharyngectomies et pharyngolaryngectomies

Hypopharynx cancers occur in rather debilitated patients and are most often diagnosed at an advanced stage. When operable they require in the majority of the cases radical surgery. Advances in chemotherapy allowed a clinical research on larynx preservation. This goal may be achieved in a notable number of cases. However surgery remain indicated in many instances. Endoscopic laser CO² surgery allows resecting selected limited tumours of the upper part of the hypopharynx. Lateral partial pharyngectomy allows resecting limited tumours of the lateral wall of the hypopharynx while either supraglottic or supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomies allow resecting limited tumours of the upper laryngopharyngeal wall. Total pharyngolaryngectomy, even though mutilating, remain an excellent procedure for those cases that are not eligible for larynx preserving strategies. Circumferential pharyngolaryngectomies may allow resecting more locally advanced diseases when both the locoregional extension and the patient's performance status are compatible with such an extensive surgery. Finally, the refinements of reconstructive surgery have allowed larger resection and moreover have tremendously improved the morbidity of salvage surgery. Pharyngectomies et pharyngolaryngectomies.