Soft tissue sarcoma of the head and neck region in adults

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

Overall survival at 5 years was 80% despite a lower disease-free survival rate.

Main

Pandey M, Chandramohan K Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2003; 32: 43–48

This study reported details of 22 soft tissue sarcomata (STS) treated over a 12 yr period in a regional cancer centre in India. In 3 cases each, rhabdomyosarcoma or malignant fibrohistiocytoma was diagnosed, and in 2 cases each, malignant schwannoma, angiosarcoma, liposarcoma or pleomorphic sarcoma.

Treatment was with thorough surgery in all cases, and adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in 14 cases. After a median follow-up of 14.5 months, 9 patients were alive and disease-free. Disease-free 5-yr survival was calculated as 24%. Smaller tumours, short duration of symptoms and low or intermediate histopathological grade gave better survival.