Thyroid gland involvement in carcinoma of the hypopharynx. Issue 1 (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Joshi, P; Nair, S; Chaturvedi, P; Nair, D; Shivakumar, T; D'Cruz, A K
• Is Part Of: Journal of laryngology & otology. Volume 128:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022215113003277
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2151

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="sec1"> <title>Objective:</title> <p>The thyroid gland is removed en bloc during laryngectomy. There are no objective criteria for deciding the extent of thyroid gland resection in primary hypopharyngeal cancer cases. The present study aimed to determine the incidence of thyroid gland involvement in hypopharyngeal cancer and identify the various predictors of this involvement.</p> </sec> <sec id="sec2"> <title>Method:</title> <p>This paper reports a retrospective analysis of 358 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, who underwent total laryngectomy with partial or total pharyngectomy at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai between 2004 and 2010.</p> </sec> <sec id="sec3"> <title>Results:</title> <p>The mean age of this population was 61 years. The pyriform sinus was the most common hypopharyngeal subsite involved (in 89 per cent of cases). Most patients underwent hemi-thyroidectomy as part of their surgery. The thyroid gland was involved in only 13 per cent of cases.</p> </sec> <sec id="sec4"> <title>Conclusion:</title> <p>Thyroid gland involvement is not common in hypopharyngeal cancer. Cases that involved the post-cricoid area, subglottic extension, extralaryngeal spread or prior tracheostomy were associated with a higher risk of thyroid gland involvement. Ipsilateral thyroidectomy is sufficient in most patients undergoing surgery (laryngectomy with partial or total pharyngectomy) for hypopharyngeal cancers.</p> </sec> </abstract>