Combined therapy vs curative radiation in the treatment of pyriform sinus carcinoma.

An attempt has been made to compare the long-term results using preoperative radiation and surgery with radiation therapy alone in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus. There is a 33% survival for the combined therapy group and a 6% survival for the curative radiation group. Large primary lesions and the presence of cervical adenopathy portend a grave prognosis. The various surgical procedures used are presented with the extent of the primary lesion as the determining factor.