Larynx-preserving pharyngo-esophagectomy after chemoradiation in the treatment of cancer of the pharyngo-esophageal junction

Pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy in the treatment of advanced tumors of the pharyngo-esophageal junction is associated with a high morbidity and poor quality of life due to loss of the larynx. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy resulted in a considerable tumor reduction in 6 patients allowing radical tumor resection by larynx-preserving pharyngo-esophagectomy. The operation consisted of total esophagectomy and resection of the posterior pharyngeal wall and reconstruction by a pharyngo-gastrostomy in 5 patients, and ileocolon interposition in 1 patient.