Head and neck sarcomas, an uncommon cancer and report of single center

Introduction: Sarcomas are not common human cancers. Head and neck area is not a common site of sarcomas. Most of cancers in H/N are SCC and the next common cancer is lymphoma and few cases are sarcoma. The main treatment of sarcoma is surgery and in H/N region, a wide margin is not possible in lots of cases. Herein we want to report our experience in Shiraz University of medical sciences with other colleagues. Methods and materials: During a 6 year period, from 2006 to 2012, we had 12 cases of sarcoma in H/N. Results: the mean age was 36.5 (±16.24) years and male / female ratio was 1/2. Most patients had leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma and MPNST. Other types of sarcoma were pleomorphic sarcoma spindle cell sarcoma fibrosarcoma. Ten patients had undergone surgery before referring to our ward and margin was involved in 7 cases and was negative in 2 cases. Twelve (100%) Patients received RT with a mean dose of 5838.3 (±805.1) cGy. Chemotherapy was administered in 5(42%) cases. Chemotherapy regimens were MAID. Four (33.3%) cases developed metastasis and the mean DFS was 24.8 months. Overall survival was 32.91 (±32.35) month. The most common site of metastasis was brain and 8 patients had local recurrence. Discussion: Distant metastases are less common than local recurrence. In a meta-analysis, of the 56 percent of patients who had a recurrence, 50 percent recurred locally, 3 percent regionally, and 20 percent distantly. Comparing to our study (63% locally ، 6%regional and 14%distant recurrence). Other series report distant metastasis rates of 35 to 50 percent Conclusion: outcome of our patients was similar to other centers.

Head and neck sarcomas, an uncommon cancer and report of single center Keywords:

sarcoma , head and neck , survival