Outcomes for hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated with organ-preservation therapy.

Background: This study assessed outcomes of patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated with organ-preservation therapy utilizing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Methods: The medical records of 98 patients treated with definitive IMRT +/- chemotherapy from 2001 to 2013 for nonmetastatic hypopharyngeal cancer were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Patients were treated to doses of 66 to 72 Gy. Eighty-three patients (85%) received chemotherapy. With median follow-up of 35 months, 2-year overall survival (OS), locoregional control, progression-free survival (PFS), and laryngectomy-free survival rates were 74%, 77%, 67%, and 65%, respectively. Functional laryngeal preservation rate was 76% at 2 years. N3 disease correlated with worse OS (p < .01). Concurrent chemotherapy correlated with improved locoregional control (p = .03) and complete response to induction chemotherapy correlated with improved OS and PFS (p = .02). Actuarial 2-year and 5-year grade 3 treatment toxicities were 17% and 21%, respectively.

Conclusion: Favorable disease outcomes and functional laryngeal preservation rates can be achieved with IMRT for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2091-E2099, 2016.