Retropharyngeal node dissection during total pharyngolaryngectomy for hypopharyngeal cancer

To clarify the efficacy of retropharyngeal (RP) node dissection for hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC). From 1990 to 1997 (Period I), we examined the RP area preoperatively using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and dissected this region during total pharyngolaryngectomy (TPL) when lymph node shadows were identified. From 1998 to 2001 (Period II), we dissected this region during TPL for all patients displaying stage IV HPC...