Abstract:Hypopharyngeal malignant tumors account for approximately 5％of head and neck malignancies. The primary tumor sites of hypopharyngeal carcinoma are piriform sinus (70%), posterior hypopharyngeal wall(15-20%)and postcricoid region(10-15%). The treatment strategy of hypopharyngeal carcinoma includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery andtheir combinations. A comprehensive treatment based on surgery is still the first treatment choice. The surgical technique falls into open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. The former consists of laryngeal preserving surgery and reconstruction, and total laryngectomy followed by reconstruction surgery of hypopharyngoesophagus. The latter consists of transoral CO2 laser microsurgery and transoral robotassisted resection of hypopharyngeal carcinoma. There is a rich lymphatic drainage in hypopharynx, thus lymph node metastasis is common.About 50% of the patients have cervical lymph node metastasis when they are diagnosed. The management of cervical lymph nodes is critical for patients’ prognosis. This article reviews the progress of surgical treatment forhypopharyngeal carcinoma based on literature and our clinical experience.