• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.244-250
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• 2000

Purpose : To see the relationship between the response to chemotherapy and the final outcome of neoadiuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with mocanry advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. Methods and Materials :A retrospective analysis was done for thirty-two patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer treated in the Seoul National University Hospital with neoadiuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy from August 1979 to July 1997. The patients were treated with Co-60 teletherapy unit or 4MV or 6MV photon beam produced by linear accelerator. Daily fractionation was 1.75 to 2 Gy, delivered five times a week. Total dose ranged from 60.8 Gy to 73.8 Gy. Twenty-nine patients received continuous infusion of cisplatin and 5-FU. Other patients were treated with cisplatin combined with bleomycin or vinblastin. Twenty-four (75$\%$) patients received all three prescribed cycles of chemotherapy delivered three weeks apart. Six patients received two cycles, and two patients received only one cycle. Results :The overall 2-year and 5-year survival rates are 65.6$\%$ and 43.0$\%$, respectively. 5-year local control rate is 34$\%$. Organ preservation for more than five years is achieved in 12 patients (38$\%$). After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 24 patients achieved more than partial remission (PR): the response rate was 75$\%$ (24/32). Five patients had complete remission (CR), 19 patients PR, and 8 patients no response (NR). Among the 19 patients who had PR to chemotherapy, 8 patients achieved CR after radiotherapy. Among the 8 non-responders to chemotherapy, 2 patients achieved CR, and 6 patients achieved PR after radiotherapy. There was no non-responder after radiotherapy. The overall survival rates were 60$\%$ for CR to chemotherapy group, 35.1$\%$ for PR to chemotherapy group, and 50$\%$ for NR to chemotherapy group, respectively (p=0.93). There were significant difference in five-year overall survival rates between the patients with CR and PR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (73.3$\%$ vs. 14.7$\%$, p<0.01). The prognostic factor affecting overall survival was the response to overall treatment (CR vs. PR, p<0.01). Conclusion :In this study, there were only five patients who achieved CR after neoadiuvant chemotherapy. Therefore the difference of overall survival rates between CR and PR to chemotherapy group was not statistically significant. Only the response to chemo-radiotherapy was the most important prognostic factor. There needs to be more effort to improve CR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and consideration for future use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.206-214
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• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness, survival rate and complications of radiation therapy and chemoradiation treatment in hypopharyngeal cancer. Methods and Materials : From January 1984 to December 1999, 56 patients who had hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated with curative radiation therapy were retrospectively studied. Twenty four patients $(42.9\%)$ were treated with radiation therapy alone (Group I) and $32\;(57.1\%)$ treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation (Group II). Total radiation dose ranged from 40.5 to 83. 5 Gy (median 67.9 Gy). Radiotherapy was given with conventional technique in 9 patients $(16.4\%)$, with hyperfractionation I ($1.15\~1.2$ Gy/fr., BID) in 26 $(47.2\%)$, hyperfractionation II (1.35 Gy/fr., BID) in 18 $(32.7\%)$, and accelerated fractionation (1.6 Gy/fr., BID) in 2 $(3.6\%)$. In chemotherapy, 5-FU ($1,000\;mg/m^2$ daily for 5 consecutive days) and cisplatin ($100\;mg/m^2$ on day 1) were administered in a cycle of 3 weeks interval, and a total of 1 to 3 cycles (average 2..3 cycles) were given prior to radiation therapy. Follow up duration was $1\~195$ months (median 28 months). Results : Overall 2 and 5 year survival rates were $40.6\%\;and\;27.6\%;\;50.0\%\;and\;30.0\%$ in Group I, and $36.4\%\;and\;26.3\%$ in Group II, respectively. Complete local control rates in Group I and II were $70.0\%\;and\;67.7\%$, respectively. The response to radiotherapy and nodal stage were statistically significant prognostic factors. The complication rate was increased in Group II and was decreased in hyperfractionation. Conclusion : The response to radiotherapy and nodal stage were valid factors to indicate the degree of control over the hypopharyngeal cancer. The induction cisplatin, 5-Fu chemotherapy was not valid in terms of local control rate and survival rate, but did contribute to an increased complication rate. The use of hyperfractionation was valid to reduce the late radiation complications.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 1987

하인두암은 거의 대부분 이상동(Pyriform Sinus) 에서 발생하며 상당한 정도 진행 시까지 별다른 증상을 나타내지 않는다. 저자들은 1966년부터 1985년까지 만 20년간 하인두에서 발생된 암환자 63명을 중심으로 임상 관찰 및 문헌고찰과 함께 발표하는바이다. 원발병소로는 전체 중 58명에서 이상동, 하인두벽(hypopharyngeal wall) 3명, Postcricoid hypopharynx 와 pharyngopalatine fold 에서 각각 1명씩의 발생빈도를 보였다. 저자들은 설저(base of tongue)암, supraglottic Ca. 및 경부 식도(cervical esophagus)암 경우는 모두 제외시켰다. 임상증상으로서는 경부 종괴(lump)가 33 예로써 가장 현저했으며 또한 첫증상으로써 연하곤란(dysphagia) 또는 sore throat를 나타낸 경우는 32 예 이었다. 그 외에 hoarseness 가 20 예, bloody sputum 4 례 및 호흡곤란 2 예의 순이었다. 내원까지의 증상기간은 대부분 $4{\sim}6$ 개월 이었다. 흡연관계는 1일 1값 이상의 중등도 흡연 경우는 전체의 58% 이었으며 흡연 사실이 있었던 경우는 전체의 88% 이었다. 연령별 발생빈도는 50대$\sim$60대에서 48명으로서 현저히 높았다. 완치 목적의 수술적 치료는 24명에서 시행하였으며 치료 거절은 16명이었다. 치료 거절하였던 환자들 중 81% 가 임상적 제 4 병기였으며 보조적 치료 요법을 실시한 환자들의 78% 에서 제 4 병기였다. 또한 완치 목적의 치료 실시 경우의 67% 에서 제 4 병기였다. 수술요법은 일반적으로 "후두 인두 적출술 및 양측 경정맥 임파군 곽청술"(laryngopharyngectomy with bilateral jugular dissection) 또는 후두 인두 적출술 및 동측의 표준 광범위 경부 곽청술(standard radical neck dissection) 과 반대측의 경정맥 임파군 곽청술을 시행하였다. 3 년 이내와 3 년 이상무병 상태(free of disease) 경우가 각각 4명씩이었다. 마지막 예후 추적 조사시까지 무병 상태였던 환자를 포함하여 예후 추적 조사기간 중 추적 실패 경우는 7명이었다. 확정된 3 년 생존율(determinate 3-year survival rate) 은 31% 이었다. 수술 사망이 1명 있었으며 재발경우는 9 명이었다. 재발부위로는 원발병소 재발이 7명, 경부 재발 1명 및 원격전이가 1명 이었으며, 저자들은 이에 대한 실패 원인을 규명코져 하였다.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2008

Hypophayngeal cancers are usually diagnosed in advanced stages and in many cases, they need total pharyngocervical esophagectomy and surgical reconstruction. Among many surgical reconstructive methods, jejunal free flap has anatomical and functional advantages such as tubed nature, peristaltic activity, excellent blood supply. In this study we analysed the surgical procedure and complications of jejunal free flap after total pharyngo-cervical esophagectomy. 20 cases performed jejunal free flap from 1995 to 2007 at Severance Hospital were reviewed. According to time of onset, early and late complications were reviewed. Surgical procedure was reviewed with operation record. Oral diet tolerance was reviewed on the basis of pharyngogram and subjective symptoms. The most common complication was stricture, and it occurred in 40% of cases and 63% of them were managed with conservative care. As early complication, fistula formation was all managed with conservative care. Oral feeding tolerance after jejunal free flap was 65% and 7 patients were tolerable to general diet. In our study, stricture was the most common complication and its management is important in post op oral diet tolerance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.610-615
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• 1991

Cancer of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus has been a major therapeutic challenge to many surgeons. Here, we report 3 cases of successful esophageal reconstruction by gastric pull-up and pharyngogastrostomy after pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy for hypopharyngeal malignancy. Postoperative recoveries were uneventful. Oral feeding was encouraged a week or two after the operation and all the patients were discharged without feeding problem.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2002

Background and Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy in treatment of patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer, which is notorious for its poor prognosis and severe surgical morbidity with functional deficits. Materials and Methods: Medical records and radiologic findings of 107 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, Stage III or IV (AJCC, 1997), were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy showed 74% complete remission (CR) rate. The patients who did not show CR after chemotherapy had a high likelihood of treatment failure, even though they achieved CR following subsequent radiotherapy. Twenty-eight of 57 patients were able to preserve their larynges for more than three years by chemotherapy and radiation. Conclusions: This approach appeared to be as effective as radical surgery with postoperative radiation therapy without comprising of survival. To improve the cure rates, we need to develop better strategies to increase CR rates with chemotherapy and determine the best treatment option for patients who are partially or nonresponsive to chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2000

Background and Objectives:Submucosal spread of hypopharyngeal canceris frequently incriminated for the high incidence of local recurrence after resection. Although mucosal spread is better detected by means of direct visualization, submucosal spread is better evaluated by using cross-sectional imaging rather than endoscopy. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of MRI in diagnosing involvement of inferior margin of hypopharyngeal cancer. Materials and Method : Eight patients with hypopharyngeal cancer underwent MRI prior to surgery. And postoperative histopathopogic involvement of tumor was compared with the preoperative MRI axial scan. Results : In preoperative MRI findings, involvement of pyriform sinus apex was 6 cases(definitive 5 cases, probable 1 cases), that of esophageal inlet was 1 case(probable), that of cervical esophagus was 1 case(probable). In postoperative histopathologic findings, the results were same. Conclusion : MRI evaluation for patient with hypopharyngeal cancer ensures accurate staging and provides essential information about the tumor involvement of inferior margin. And there is needed to be thin section thickness in evaluation of inferior margin of hypopharyngeal cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 1997

Purpose : It is well known that the risk of lymph nodes metastases to head and neck cancers are influenced by the location and size of the Primary tumor. as well as the degree and types of histological differentiation. However, data on the statistical analyses of lymph node metastases from the head and neck cancers among Korean Population are not available at present. In order to obtain current status of such data, we have analyzed cancer patients at the department of radiation oncology, korea universityhospital for radiation treatment. Materials and Methods : We have evaluated nine-hundred and ninetyseven (997) head and neck cancer Patients who visited to the Department of radiation oncology, between November 1981 to December 1995. After careful physical examinations and CAT scan, Patients were divided into two groups, those with positive lymph node metastases and with negative lymph node metastases. The nodal status were classified according to the TNM system of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Besults : Four-hundred and sixteen Patients out of the 997 patients were lymph node positive $(42\%)$ and 581 patients were lymph node negative $(58\%)$ when they were first presented at the department of radiation oncelogy. According to the AJCC classification, the distribution of positive lymph node is as follow: Nl:106 $(25.5\%),\;N2a:100\;(24\%),\;N2b:68\;(16.4\%),\;N2c:69\;(16.6\%),\;3:73\;(15\%).$ respectively. The frequency of lymph node metastases according to the primary sites is as follow : larynx 283 $(28.5\%)$, paranasal sinuses: 182 $(18\%),\;oropharynx:144\;(14.5\%)\;nasopharynx:122(12\%),\;oral\;cavity\;92\;(9\%),\;hypopharynx:71\;(7\%),\;falivary\;gland:58\;(6\%)$ unknown primary:31 $(3\%),\;skin:\;14(2\%)$,. The most frequent Primary site for the positive Iymph node metastases was nasopharynx $(71\%)$ followed by hypopharynx $(69\%),\;oropharynx\;(64\%),\;oral\;cavity\;(39\%)$ The most common histologic type was squamous cell carcinoma (652/997: $65.4\%$). followed by malignant lymphoma $(109/997:11\%)$. Conclusion : Statistical results of lymph node metastases from head and neck cancer at our department were very similar to those obtained from other countries. It is concluded that the location of Primary cancer influences sites of metastases on head and neck, and stage of the primary cancer also influences the development of metastatic lesions. Since the present study is limited on the data collected from one institute. further statistical analyses on Korean cancer Patients are warrented.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.200-205
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the post operative outcome of reconstruction with using the stomach after performing total pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer or cervical esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 23 patients who underwent gastric pull up for esophageal substitution at the Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, between January 1991 and December 2006. All the patients had transhiatal esophagectomy performed without thoracotomy. Results: There were seventeen males and six females with a median age of 58.1 years (range: 40-70 years). 19 cases were hypopharyngeal cancer, 13 cases had cancer in the pyriform sinus, 15 cases had cancer in the postcricoid area and one case had cancer in the glottic area. The rest were cervical esophageal cancers. The pathologic result was squamous cell carcinoma in all cases. The median total follow-up period was 33 months (range: 1-62 months) and there were two (8.6%) postoperative deaths: one was due to carotid rupture and the other was due to hepatic failure with liver metastasis. The complications were leakage in 1 patient (4.4%), pneumothorax in 1 patient (4.4%) and pneumonia in 1 patient (4.4%). Conclusion: The use of stomach for esophageal reconstruction has many benefits for treating hypopharyngeal cancer or cervical esophageal cancer, So, we made sure there was a sufficient length for the anastomosis after pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and a rich blood supply from the stomach. There was a low incidence of the leakage at the anastomotic site, along with a low incidence of stenosis and bleeding.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.30-32
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• 2010

Tracheo-gastric fistula is a very rare late complication of total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric pull-up procedure. It usually occurs after transhiatal esophagectomy, but it has only rarely been reported after total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric pull-up procedure. Chronic irritation and gastric ulcer may be the cause of tracheogastric fistula. To prevent fistula formation, active management of gastric ulcer and avoidance of mucosal irritation are necessary. We report a case of a tracheogastric fistula which occurred two years after total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric pull-up procedure that maybe occurred by chronic irritation and gastric ulcer.