Circumferential laryngopharyngectomy with free jejunal transfer for hypopharyngeal cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis of outcomes and complications.

Purpose: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and characterized by poor prognosis. While primary (chemo)radiotherapy is frequently preferred for early and intermediate stage disease, total laryngopharyngectomy (TLP) remains the gold standard for the primary treatment of locally advanced tumors and for salvage treatment of residual and recurrent HSCC. However, reconstruction of a circumferential hypopharyngeal defect is challenging. This retrospective cohort analysis evaluates the oncological and functional outcomes of TLP with free jejunal transfer (FJT). Methods: 22 patients with histopathologically confirmed HSCC requiring TLP with FJT were included. Data on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and functional and oncological outcomes were analyzed with overall survival (OS) as primary outcome. Results: Overall, 22 patients were included (18.2% female, mean age 65.6 years). Mean follow-up time was 3.9 years. Primary and salvage TLP was performed in 8 (36.4%) and 14 (63.6%) patients respectively. All primary tumors were stage IV. In the salvage group, patients had disease stage II ( Conclusion: FJT deserves its place in the reconstructive armamentarium following TLP. Oncological outcomes are good and functional outcomes are acceptable but there is room for improvement.