Experiences in lateral pharyngotomy

Lateral pharyngotomy offers good exposure for the removal of many laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors. The simplified operation I present avoids damage to voice, deglutition or airway. This approach can be expanded to reach almost any tumor of the pharynx and radical neck dissection can be incorporated. The cosmetic result has been satisfactory, but if individual consideration prompts it, a more horizontal skin-fold incision can easily be substituted.