Surgery of Oropharyngeal Tumours Penetrating to the Larynx

Overview

Introduction.
In surgery of large oropharyngeal tumours it is necessary in some casesto include the larynx or its part. The aim of the paper is to reveal the oncological results in thesetumours and the influence of such operations on the quality of life and to determine whether theseoperations are of benefit to the patient.Group of patients. In the period 1994 - 1999 254 patients were treated by surgery for oropharyngealcarcinoma. In nine cases the larynx was included together with oropharynx in the resection.Results. Healing was complicated in 4 cases, one patient died during the postoperative period ofcarotic haemorrhage. From six patients treated more than five years ago 50% survive. Five patientsof nine survive. Two of them complain of dysphagia, which in consistent with the whole group ofpatients surgically treated for oropharyngeal carcinoma.Conclusions. With regard to our results we conclude that surgery together with postoperativeradiation is the most effective treatment also in the group of patients with oropharyngeal tumoursspreading to the larynx. The survival in this sub-group is probably not worse than in patients witha similar sized tumour but without extension to the larynx. The quality of life of patients withoropharyngeal surgery and partial

Key words:
tumours of the oropharynx, penetration into larynx, surgical treatment, results.