CT study of carcinoma of the hypopharynx

To evaluate CT in diagnosis of carcinoma of the hypopharynx, seven cases were examined with CT, all were proved to be squamous carcinoma by operation and pathology. The CT findings were analyzed. Carcinoma of the hypopharynx manifested as a solid, isodense or mixed density mass, without cystic change, necrosis or calcification, usually located in the pyriform sinus or postcricoid region. The distance between arytenoid cartilage and vertebra (DAV) and the distance between cricoid cartilage and vertebra (DCV) were increased obviously as compared with 60 normal adults showing statistical significance (P<0.01). DAV and/or DCV greater than 10 mm was the characteristic feature of carcinoma of the hypopharynx, and was helpful in differential diagnosis from laryngeal carcinoma. Other indirect findings included ipsilateral deformation or disappearance of the pyriform sinus, invasion of the paralaryngeal space, swelling of the aryepiglottic fold and destruction of the thyroid lamina. Thin slice CT scanning can provide useful information about the size, location and extent of the tumor which are important for clinical staging and surgical planning