Indications for Postoperative (Chemo)radiation Therapy with Hypopharyngeal Cancer

Commenced within 6 weeks of surgery

Note: Postoperative radiation therapy may impair swallowing and increase aspiration following hypopharyngeal resection or supracricoid laryngectomy

Postoperative Radiotherapy

  • Primary tumour bed
    • Through thyroid cartilage or into extralaryngeal soft tissues
    • Positive margin / close margins
    • Intraoperative tumour spillage
    • Preoperative tracheostomy through tumour
  • Neck
    • >1 metastases
    • Extracapsular spread (ECS)
  • Postoperative chemoradiation
    • Positive margins
    • ECS

Index: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hypopharyngeal Cancer

Resource Appropriate Hypopharynx Cancer Guideline Scenarios