Substituting esophagus with colon in the treatment of hypopharyngeal and esophageal disease

Objective: To study the feasibility and effect of substituting esophagus with colon in the treatment of advanced stage hypopharyngeal carcinoma, cervical esophagus cancer and serious esophageal stenosis on the basis of laryngeal function preservation.

Methods: From 1989 to 1996. 25 patients in our department were retrospectively reviewed among them, nine were hypopharyngeal carcinoma, T3 (No1, N1 4, N2 2), T4 N1 M0 2 (UICC 1997), thirteen were cervical esophagus cancer, T1N0M0 2, T2 (N0 4, N1 7), there were serious esophageal stenosis, length was 3-5 cm. The patients with carcinoma were given postoperation radiotherapy.

Results: The total survival rates in 3, 5 years are 54.5%, 42.9% respectively. The 3-year survival rates are 44.4% in the cases with advanced stage hypopharyngeal carcinoma, and 61.5% with cervical esophagus cancer, respectively.

Conclusions: Substituting esophagus with colon is in conformity with physical demand, can reduce complication and improve life quality.