Oncological and functional outcomes of trans-oral robotic surgery for pyriform sinus carcinoma: A French GETTEC group study

Abstract

Background: Pyriform sinus carcinomas (SCC) present specific functional and oncological issues. The recent advent of trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS), as a conservative procedure, has opened up new perspectives.

Objectives: To present the oncological and functional outcomes of TORS for pyriform sinus SCC.

Materials and methods: We included, retrospectively, all TORS procedures for pyriform sinus SCC performed between 2009 and 2017 in eight French tertiary referral centers. We excluded lesions involving the pyriform sinus that had developed from the oropharynx, larynx, or other anatomic sub-sites of the hypopharynx.

Results: We included 57 TORS procedures. Median hospital stay was 10 days. A preventive tracheotomy was performed in seven cases (12%), and all were successfully decannulated. Oral re-feeding was possible for 93%, after a median of 5 days. The main surgical complications were hemorrhages (three cases), all successfully handled, although 2 patients with heavy comorbidities died from blood loss in the days after. Adjuvant therapy was proposed in 31 cases (54%), including two cases of salvage surgery (total pharyngolaryngectomy). After a median follow-up of 23 months, overall and disease-free survival were, respectively, 84% and 74% at 24 months, and 66% and 50% at 48 months. At the end of follow-up, organ preservation rate was 96%. None of the surviving patients needed a tracheotomy and oral diet was possible for 96%.

Conclusion: The functional and oncological outcomes of TORS for pyriform sinus cancer are encouraging, and this procedure can be considered safe for selected early or moderately advanced cases as a conservative treatment.

Keywords: Head and neck cancer; Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma; Organ preservation; Pyriform sinus cancer; Robotic hypopharyngectomy; Transoral robotic surgery.