Adult soft-tissue sarcomas of the head and neck

BACKGROUND: Head and neck sarcomas are relatively rare tumors, accounting for only about 2% of all head and neck malignancies and for 4 to 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. The rarity and more over the heterogeneity of these tumors make rigorous study of their clinical behavior difficult. AIMS: We analyzed our single center experience of adult soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Our study included 27 patients of adult soft-tissue sarcomas of the head and neck who presented to our center between January 1996 and December 2005. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient characteristics, clinical features, treatment modalities, clinical course, and long-term outcomes and its determinants were analyzed. RESULTS: Surgery in the form of wide excision aimed at achieving negative margins was the main modality of treatment and adjuvant radiation was used in selected patients. The five-year disease-free survival was 64.5% and overall survival (OS) was 68%. Of the multiple potential factors analyzed, univariate analysis showed grade, margin status, and adjuvant radiation to be the important prognostic factors for the survival. The multivariate analysis however only showed margin status and adjuvant radiation to be prognostic. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery with negative margins is a key to long-term survival. Complete resection with adjuvant radiation in selected cases potentially decreases local recurrences and improves OS.