Quality of life for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer after different therapeutic modalities.

BACKGROUND Concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) have become therapeutic selections for organ preservation in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS Our cross-sectional, observational study assesses quality of life (QOL) in patients with hypopharyngeal cancers receiving TLM plus radiotherapy (RT) compared with those treated with CCRT only or radical open surgery (nearly all of whom also received RT or CCRT). QOL was assessed at least 6 months posttreatment. RESULTS The study included 87 patients. Patients receiving open surgery reported significantly more sensory and speech disturbances than the others and more dental problems than the TLM group; the CCRT group experienced more xerostomia than the others, more weight loss, and dysphagia than the open surgery group; TLM patients experience fewer difficulties in emotional and social functioning, financial impact, and cough. CONCLUSION TLM may provide comparable, if not better, QOL for patients relative to the other therapeutic regimens for selective advanced cases of hypopharyngeal cancer.