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A systematic review of different treatment strategies for the squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall

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Abstract

Objective

To perform a systematic review of the literature available about the posterior pharyngeal wall squamous cell carcinomas, with a special focus on oncologic outcomes.

Methods

A comprehensive research was performed on PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library datasets for published studies meeting the established criteria. The last search was conducted on December 8, 2019.

Results

Eleven studies were included in the review, for a total of 534 patients (median age 60.4; male: n = 359, 67.2%). Six of the studies evaluated the oncologic outcomes of primary surgery, while three studies focused on results achieved through primary radiotherapy. Two studies evaluated both surgery and radiotherapy outcomes for the treatment of early or advanced posterior pharyngeal wall carcinoma.

Conclusions

Primary surgery associated with adjuvant radiotherapy would seem to ensure better oncologic outcomes, especially for locally advanced tumors. Moreover, this systematic review showed that oro- and hypo-pharyngeal wall tumors are similar in terms of clinical and biological behavior.

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Data and material are available on request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, MI, Italy

    Armando De Virgilio, Elena Russo, Andrea Costantino, Luca Malvezzi, Giovanni Colombo, Giovanni Cugini, Stefano Miceli, Vanessa Rossi, Giuseppe Spriano & Giuseppe Mercante

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini, 4, 20090, Pieve Emanuele, MI, Italy

    Armando De Virgilio, Elena Russo, Andrea Costantino, Giuseppe Spriano & Giuseppe Mercante

Authors
  1. Armando De Virgilio
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  2. Elena Russo
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  3. Andrea Costantino
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  4. Luca Malvezzi
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  5. Giovanni Colombo
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  6. Giovanni Cugini
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  7. Stefano Miceli
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  8. Vanessa Rossi
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  9. Giuseppe Spriano
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  10. Giuseppe Mercante
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Contributions

ADV: study design, data analysis, manuscript development, and review of final manuscript. ER: study design, data collection and analysis, manuscript development, and review of final manuscript. AC: study design, data analysis, manuscript development, and review of final manuscript. LM: study design and review of final manuscript. GC: data analysis and review of final manuscript. GC: data collection and review of final manuscript. SM: data collection and review of final manuscript. VN: data analysis and review of final manuscript. GS: study design and review of final manuscript. GM: study design and review of final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Costantino.

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Conflict of interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Because of the nature of this project, no institutional review board approval was necessary.

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De Virgilio, A., Russo, E., Costantino, A. et al. A systematic review of different treatment strategies for the squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 2663–2672 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05990-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05990-0

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