hypopharyngeal

Hypopharyngeal is an anatomical term that refers to the hypopharynx, the lower part of the pharynx. This region lies behind the larynx and extends to the upper esophagus, acting as a conduit for swallowed material and participating in airway protection during swallowing.

Anatomy and regions

The hypopharynx comprises three subregions: the pyriform sinuses (pyriform recesses) on either side of the laryngeal inlet, the postcricoid region behind the cricoid cartilage, and the posterior pharyngeal wall. Together they form the inferior portion of the pharynx, adjacent to the larynx anteriorly and the cervical esophagus inferiorly. The hypopharynx communicates with the esophagus and is bordered superiorly by the oropharynx.

Function and significance

Its main role is in guiding ingested material from the oropharynx into the esophagus during swallowing. The hypopharynx also participates in protecting the airway during swallowing, and its mucosa can be affected by inflammatory or neoplastic processes.

Pathology

The most clinically significant conditions affecting the hypopharynx are tumors, most commonly squamous cell carcinoma. Risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition. Hypopharyngeal cancers often present late with dysphagia, odynophagia, throat discomfort, weight loss, or a neck mass from nodal metastasis, contributing to a relatively poorer prognosis compared with other head and neck sites.

Diagnosis and treatment

Evaluation typically involves endoscopy with directed biopsy and imaging (CT or MRI) to assess local extent and nodal disease, with PET-CT for metastasis in selected cases. Management is multidisciplinary and may include organ-preserving chemoradiation or surgical resection of the hypopharynx, sometimes with reconstructive procedures. Outcomes depend on stage at diagnosis and tumor biology.