Secondary tracheoesophageal puncture using transnasal esophagoscopy in gastric pull-up reconstruction after total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: There is debate about the optimal voice restoration method and technique for patients who have undergone total laryngopharyngectomy, esophagectomy, and gastric pull-up. The purpose of this study was to report a series of patients who underwent awake, secondary tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) after this procedure. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed at a tertiary referral center. All subjects who underwent TEP placement under transnasal esophagoscopy guidance between 2003 and 2013 were included. RESULTS: All patients underwent uncomplicated TEP in the clinic. At the time of last follow-up, all patients had functional TEP speech that they were using preferentially over an available electrolarynx. CONCLUSION: In-office placement of secondary TEP using transnasal esophagoscopy is an efficient means of providing a conduit for voice prostheses in patients who have undergone laryngopharyngectomy with gastric pull up reconstruction. This procedure can be performed with minimal complications and with expectation of voice outcomes comparable to that seen with standard laryngectomy.

Transoral resection of a retropharyngeal myxoma: a case report.

This study was conducted to describe a retropharyngeal myxoma and discuss clinical concerns regarding this pathology and a retropharyngeal site of occurrence. We present a case report and review of literature. A 71-year-old woman presented with mild right neck pressure for 3 weeks. Imaging studies and head neck examination confirmed a 5.3 × 3.1 × 1.0 cm retropharyngeal mass with no communication to the vertebral column but was intimately involved with the pharyngeal mucosa. A transoral fine needle aspiration biopsy suggested a possible spindle cell neoplasm. A presurgical swallowing consultation was obtained. A transoral excision of the tumor was possible with no intraoperative complications. Histopathology was a cellular myxoma. Postoperative dysphagia required swallowing therapy and nasogastric tube feeding for 2 weeks before oral intake was possible. The patient has no evidence of clinical or radiological recurrence more than 1 year after surgical intervention. We present the second case of a myxoma in the retropharynx reported in English literature. Transoral excision was safe, feasible, and cosmetically appealing option in our patient. Additional clinical data are required to valid its safety and utility as an approach to tumors in the retropharynx. Postoperative dysphagia can be significant and consequently we recommend preoperative swallowing evaluation and counseling.