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Soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck: a single‐centre experience
Author(s) -
Lajer C.B.,
Daugaard S.,
Hansen H.S.,
Kirkegaard J.,
Holmgaard S.,
Christensen M.E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2273.2004.00951.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rhabdomyosarcoma , soft tissue , sarcoma , head and neck , leiomyosarcoma , soft tissue sarcoma , pathological , surgical margin , retrospective cohort study , overall survival , survival rate , surgery , radiology , pathology , resection
Objective: The aim of this study was to report our experience with malignant and borderline soft tissue tumours (STS) of the head and neck region in the period 1977–2000. Design: Retrospective case study including new evaluation of histological specimens. Setting: Tertiary centre, single centre. Participants: Review of patient's records and new evaluation of pathological specimens were made for 66 patients. After evaluation only 36 patients (26 men and 10 women) still met present criteria for a STS in head and neck in adults. Results: The original histological diagnosis was changed in 27 (41%) of the 66 patients with a primary diagnosis of sarcoma. After review the most common histological diagnoses were leiomyosarcoma (5) and rhabdomyosarcoma (5). Overall 5‐year survival rate was 60%. Overall 5‐year disease‐free survival rate was 44%. The study showed that both tumour grade and surgical margin had a statistically significant impact on survival. No relation was found between survival and tumour size or age. Conclusion: The grave prognosis especially for high‐grade tumours emphasizes the need for improved treatment strategies. Furthermore, conclusions from older studies concerning prognosis may be obsolete as approximately 40% of tumours previously diagnosed as sarcomas may be invalid by present day standards. Keypoints • Tumour grade and surgical margins are the most significant impact factors upon survival of patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the head and neck. • Based upon our re‐review of histological specimens as much as 40% of tumours previously diagnosed in older studies as sarcomas of the head and neck may be faulty by present standards. Such studies may therefore be obsolete. • Improved treatment strategies on STS of the head and neck should focus on high‐grade tumours.