Endoscopic examination, including narrow-band imaging (NBI), is being increasingly used to detect early hypopharygeal cancer. Because these high-risk cases have already often undergone radiotherapy for esophageal cancer, early hypopharygeal cancer is a good indication for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Slightly larger tumors, however, require partial hypopharyngotomy preserving the larynx. Since reconstruction with a free flap may be highly invasive, we reported using an anterior chest skin flap as a useful alternative in pharyngeal reconstruction.
