Background:
The aim was to investigate whether periodic pharyngolaryngoscopy screening in high-risk patients with preceding carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract can detect early hypopharyngeal cancer and preserve the larynx.
Methods:
The records of 122 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer were retrospectively reviewed. patients were divided into the following two groups: (1) the screening (scr) group (n = 65), patients whose hypopharyngeal cancer was detected by pharyngolaryngoscopy screening; and (2) the symptom (symp) group (n = 57), patients whose cancer was discovered by any symptoms. patients' demographics and larynx preservation were compared.
Results:
The number of patients with clinical stage i to iv disease at diagnosis was 44, 14, three, four for the scr group, respectively, and six, six, 15, 30 for the symp group, which was significantly different (p < .0001). the rate of larynx preservation after radical treatment was 79.4% for the scr group and 45.4% for the symp group (p < .001).
Conclusions:
Periodic pharyngolaryngoscopy screening in high-risk patients may contribute to detecting early hypopharyngeal cancer. early detection of hypopharyngeal cancer may enhance the rate of larynx preservation and improve the quality of life.