Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41133918›Full record

ArticleThe Laryngoscope2026

Tracheostomy Dependence in Hypopharyngeal Cancer: Comparative Prognostic Impact of CRT Versus Surgery.

Chien-Yi Yang, Chun-Shu Lin, Chieh Hsing Liu, Shao-Cheng Liu

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in The Laryngoscope, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Chien-Yi YangDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital Songshan Branch, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC).ORCID 0009-0004-9109-1223
Chun-Shu LinDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC).
Chieh Hsing LiuDepartment of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC).
Shao-Cheng LiuDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC).ORCID 0000-0001-9730-1798

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesOrgan preservation strategies are increasingly adopted for hypopharyngeal carcinoma, but functional outcomes may be suboptimal. Posttreatment tracheostomy dependence significantly increases morbidity and reduces quality of life. This study evaluated airway outcomes and oncologic results in patients treated with primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or upfront surgery.

methodsThis retrospective study included 165 patients, with data collected on demographics, treatment type, tracheostomy status, and oncologic outcomes. The primary endpoint was long-term tracheostomy dependence. Oncologic outcomes, including local control, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS), were analyzed.

resultsAmong the 165 patients included, 139 had advanced-stage disease; 54 received CRT and 85 underwent upfront surgery. The 5-year OS rate was significantly higher with surgery (40.0%) than CRT (18.4%). Patients who underwent total laryngectomy (TL) had higher 5-year OS (35.5% vs. 28.6%) and 3-year DFS (41.9% vs. 27.3%) compared to those managed with organ preservation. When stratified by airway status, 5-year OS was 58.8% in patients with preserved airways, 29.3% after TL, and 6.7% in those with long-term tracheostomy dependence. Notably, emergency tracheostomy (n = 41) was associated with significantly poorer OS (12.2%), and none of these patients retained their native airway. Overall, 75.54% (105/139) of advanced-stage patients ultimately lost their native airway, including 55.84% (43/77) of those who initially pursued an organ preservation strategy.

conclusionsPatients with long-term tracheostomy dependence exhibited the poorest prognosis and highest recurrence rates. Emergency tracheostomy was a strong predictor of long-term dependence. Upfront surgery may be more appropriate for patients with impaired baseline laryngeal function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3:

Indexed as

ChemoradiotherapyHypopharyngeal NeoplasmsLaryngectomyTracheostomyAdultAgedDisease-Free SurvivalFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisQuality of LifeRetrospective StudiesTreatment Outcomeemergency tracheostomyhypopharyngeal carcinomalong‐term tracheostomyorgan preservationupfront surgery

Identifiers

PMID41133918
PMCPMC12913735

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.