RECENT advances in knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the hypopharynx have resulted in the use of selective surgical techniques for the resection of benign tumors of this area with minimal trauma and loss of function. The various approaches to the hypopharynx are suspension laryngoscopy, lateral pharyngotomy, anterior transhyoid pharyngotomy, and median labiomandibular glossotomy. The purpose of this paper is to describe these techniques and demonstrate their application in selected cases from our series.
Anatomic Considerations
We define hypopharynx as the roughly triangular space extending from the base of the tongue and valleculae to the cricopharyngeus muscle including the corresponding portions of lateral and posterior pharyngeal walls, the pyriform sinuses, and the supraglottic laryngeal structures.Suspension Laryngoscopy.—Suspension laryngoscopy, as described by Lynch1 and LaJeune,2 is particularly effective for the removal of pedunculated hypopharyngeal tumors having a limited attachment, as well as for the evaluation of lesions