UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Methods: From 1981 to 2000 radiotherapy was performed in 27 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer at N.N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center. The mean age of the patients was 57 years. In 12 (44.44%) patients metastases were found in level II; in 1 (3.7%) patient in level III, in 4 (14.81%) patients – in levels II & III, in 2 (7.41%) patients – in levels III & IV, in 7 (25.94%) – in levels II to IV and in 1 (3.7%) patient – in levels II to V. None of the patients had level I to VI involved. As per TNM classification, 8 patients had N1, 6 had N2 and 13 had N3 disease. All patients had neck metastases in the same side of lesion and in six patients the contralateral side was also involved. In 10 (37.04%) the metastases were mobile, in 4 (14.81%) patients - partially mobile and in 13 (48.15%) patients they were fixed.

Results: All patients underwent only radiotherapy. Total regression or 75% regression was achieved in 5 (18.52%) out of 27 patients. Partial effect was observed in 11 (40.74%) patients. Less than 25% or no effect was observed in 10 (37.04%) patients. In one (3.7%) patient progression of disease was registered during treatment. 5-year survival was 11.2+6.05%.

Conclusion: Radiotherapy as a single modality is effective for metastases less than 3 cm in level II , single lesion and exophytic or endophytic growth of primary tumor.