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Hypopharynx and Proximal Esophagus

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Head and Neck Cancer Imaging

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

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Abstract

Cancers of the hypopharynx and proximal esophagus typically present at an advanced stage. They are often underestimated on clinical examination as they tend to grow in a submucosal fashion. On imaging, evaluation of the normally present fat planes within the post-cricoid musculature and around the hypopharynx as well as proximal esophagus is essential for mapping of the tumor boundaries. Cartilage invasion, tumor volume and involvement of the pyriform sinus apex are important variables in stratification of patients into favorable and unfavorable treatment groups. Patients with favorable tumors typically receive radiation therapy while patients with unfavorable tumors usually undergo surgical resection and subsequent reconstructive surgery. Both treatments cause some alteration of the tissue planes with additional marked distortion of the normal anatomy seen with surgical resection. The growth patterns of tumors arising from the different subsites within the hypopharynx and proximal esophagus, pretreatment considerations for staging and treatment planning purposes, as well as posttreatment complications and surveillance issues will be discussed in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Administration and University of Florida College of Medicine, 1601 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA

    Ilona M. Schmalfuss

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  1. Ilona M. Schmalfuss
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Correspondence to Ilona M. Schmalfuss .

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  1. University Hospital Leuven, Dept. Radiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Robert Hermans

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Schmalfuss, I.M. (2011). Hypopharynx and Proximal Esophagus. In: Hermans, R. (eds) Head and Neck Cancer Imaging. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_374

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_374

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-17868-9

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