Sarcomas of the head and neck region

Outcomes for Patients With Head and Neck Sarcoma Treated Curatively With Radiation Therapy and Surgery

PURPOSE

Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) of the head and neck (H&N) are rare malignancies that are challenging to manage. We sought to describe the outcomes of patients treated with curative intent using combined surgery and radiation therapy (RT) for H&N STS.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients with nonmetastatic STS of the H&N who were treated from 1968 to 2020. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate disease-specific survival (DSS) and local control (LC). Multivariable analyses (MVAs) were conducted using Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-two patients had a median follow-up of 82 months. Tumors arose in the neck (n = 50, 26%), paranasal sinuses (n = 36, 19%), or face (n = 23, 12%). Most patients were treated with postoperative RT (n = 134, 70%). Postoperative RT doses were higher (median, 60 Gy; preoperative dose, 50 Gy; P < .001). Treatment sequence was not associated with LC (preoperative RT, 78% [63%-88%]; postoperative RT, 75% [66%-82%]; P = .48). On MVA, positive/uncertain margin was the only variable associated with LC (hazard ratio [HR], 2.54; 95% CI, 1.34-4.82; P = .004). LC was significant on MVA (HR, 4.48; 95% CI, 2.62-7.67; P < .001) for DSS. Patients who received postoperative RT were less likely to experience a major wound complication (7.5% vs 22.4%; HR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.68; P = .005). There was no difference in the rate of late toxicities between patients who received preoperative or postoperative RT.

CONCLUSIONS

H&N STS continues to have relatively poorer LC than STS of the trunk or extremities. We found LC to be associated with DSS. Timing of RT did not impact oncologic or long-term toxicity outcomes; however, preoperative RT did increase the chance of developing a major wound complication.

Paranasal sinus angiosarcoma with facial paralysis as a novel manifestation: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Paranasal sinus angiosarcoma is an uncommon malignancy, with only a few reported cases worldwide. Although it exhibits multiple symptoms, facial paralysis has not been previously documented as a noticeable presentation.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this case, we report a 40-year-old male who presented with facial numbness and pain for one month, weakness of his facial muscles for 15 days, and recurrent right epistaxis for 1 year. He had a history of nasal inflammatory polyps with chronic sinusitis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed space-occupying lesions in the right nasal cavity and maxillary sinus, with bone destruction occurring in the sinus wall and turbinate. This patient then underwent endoscopic surgery. According to the histopathological and immunohistochemical results, he was eventually diagnosed with paranasal sinus angiosarcoma in April 2021. To date, this patient has not initiated any radiotherapy or chemotherapy and has survived with lymphatic metastasis for at least 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This manuscript suggests that paranasal sinus angiosarcoma can present with facial paralysis. Moreover, pathological and immunohistochemical tests are still vital for diagnosing paranasal sinus angiosarcoma and differential diagnosis. Additionally, regular follow-up is crucial for patients with paranasal sinus angiosarcoma, enabling monitoring of recurrence, metastasis, and recovery while contributing valuable clinical data to understanding this rare disease and associated research endeavours.

Synovial sarcoma of the maxilla: A challenging diagnostic case report and literature review

Synovial sarcoma, a malignant mesenchymal tumor, is primarily associated with the extremities. Nevertheless, its appearance within the head and neck region, particularly in the maxillary area, is remarkably rare. This rarity underscores the significance of each case in unraveling the complexities of its behavior and management strategies. The core focus of this research is a detailed case report involving a 6-year-old female patient who presented with a conspicuous swelling in the left posterior maxilla. Subsequent incisional biopsy led to microscopic identification of malignant spindle cell proliferation, marked by dysplastic changes, and abundant mitoses. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis demonstrated negative reactivity for neural and muscular markers, while positive expression of Vimentin, Bcl-2, and TLE1. These morphological and IHC findings coalesced to definitively diagnose synovial sarcoma, substantiated by a notable 40% Ki67 proliferative index. The chosen treatment strategy encompassed surgery and radiotherapy, which yielded successful outcomes, with no recurrence observed during the one-year follow-up period. Beyond the specific case, this article undertakes a review of existing literature, meticulously analyzing nine similar cases reported in scholarly sources.

Targeting the Molecular and Immunologic Features of Leiomyosarcoma

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare, aggressive mesenchymal tumor with smooth muscle differentiation. LMS is one of the most common histologic subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma; it most frequently occurs in the extremities, retroperitoneum, or uterus. LMS often demonstrates aggressive tumor biology, with a higher risk of developing distant metastatic disease than most sarcoma histologic types. The prognosis is poor, particularly in patients with uterine disease, and there is a need for the development of more effective therapies. Genetically, LMS is karyotypically complex and characterized by a low tumor mutational burden, with frequent alterations in TP53, RB1, PTEN, and DNA damage response pathways that may contribute to resistance against immune-checkpoint blockade monotherapy. The LMS immune microenvironment is highly infiltrated with tumor-associated macrophages and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, which may represent promising biomarkers. This review provides an overview of the clinical and pathologic behavior of both soft tissue and uterine LMS and summarizes the genomic and immune characteristics of these tumors and how they may provide opportunities for the development of biomarker-based immune therapies.

An extremely scarce incidence of primary Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma of the Scalp of a 52-year-old female - A Case Report

Introduction and importance

Sarcomas are malignant mesenchymal-cell tumors that comprise 1 % of all adult tumors. Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma comprises a vastly rare subtype. It mostly occurs in males in their 6th decade of life. However, their exact incidence remains poorly demarcated, especially those occurring in the scalp. Since they lack any disease-specific presentations, we should maintain high clinical suspicion when presented with similar cases.

Case presentation

Herein, we demonstrate the clinical case of a 52-year-old Middle Eastern female, who presented to the outpatient clinic complaining of a one-year history of progressively growing protuberance in her right side of the scalp. It was painful and rapidly increased in size. Presurgical radiological assessment suspected a cystic formation. Utter resection of the mass was achieved, and histopathological analysis diagnosed it as a primary Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma.

Clinical discussion

Meticulous surgical resection was the cornerstone treatment of our patient. Radiological imaging in addition to clinical suspicion was utilized for preoperative assessment. This patient has had a successful post-surgical recovery. She has been surveilled for 6 months so far with no evidence of tumor recurrence, metastasis, or clinical complications.

Conclusion

It is especially rare to see a primary Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma in any patient population. It's even rarer that it occurs in such a patient demographic. Hence, it's vital that we document cases of this rare malignancy because that would lead the way in conducting informative clinical studies which enable physicians to select the proper treatment modality.

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Sarcomas are malignant mesenchymal-cell tumors that comprise 1 % of all adult tumors.

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Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma comprises a rare subtype. It mostly occurs in males in their 6th decade.

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UPS showed higher tendencies to occur in males rather than females and favored the White rather than African race.

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To establish a final diagnosis relies on competent histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis.

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The ideal management of UPS occurring in the head and neck is utter surgical resection with free margins of 2 cm.

Anterior Skull Base Sarcomas: Report of Characteristics and Outcomes at a Tertiary Care Cancer Center

Objective This study was aimed to describe our institutional experience on characteristics and treatment outcomes of sinonasal sarcomas invading the anterior skull base.

Design Present study is a retrospective review.

Setting The study was conducted at an academic cancer care center.

Participants Thirty-one patients with skull base sarcomas treated with primary surgery from 1979 to 2015 were identified for this study from a preexisting database.

Main Outcome Measures Survival and recurrence outcomes using the Kaplan–Meier method were the focus areas of the study.

Results The median age was 44 years (range: 13–69 years). Twenty patients were male (64.5%). Twenty-nine patients underwent open craniofacial resection (93.5%) and two patients underwent endoscopic resection (6.5%). The majority of tumors were staged pT4 (77.4%). The most common pathologies were leiomyosarcoma (19.4%), osteosarcoma (16.1%), and chondrosarcoma (12.9%). Of those with known margin status, 10 patients had positive/close margins (32.2%) and 16 patients had negative margins (51.6%). Most tumors were high grade (74.2%). Twenty-three patients (74.2%) received adjuvant radiation and four patients (12.9%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. There were nine postoperative complications (29%) including one mortality and three cerebrospinal fluid leaks. There were 10 local, 2 regional, and 5 distant recurrences over a median follow-up of 74 months (range: 1–300 months). The 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 69.8%. The 5-year locoregional recurrence-free probability (RFP) was 63.2% and the 10-year distant RFP was 71.7%. The 5-year DSS for high grade tumors was 64.2 and 85.7% for low grade tumors (p = 0.117).

Conclusion This study contributes an updated analysis of anterior skull base sarcomas. Five-year DSS is approximately 70%. Analysis of survival outcomes based on grade, tumor size, and other factors is limited by small sample size and the rarity of these tumors.

Update on MR Imaging of Soft Tissue Tumors of Head and Neck

This article reviews soft tissue tumors of the head and neck following the 2020 revision of WHO Classification of Soft Tissue and Bone Tumours. Common soft tissue tumors in the head and neck and tumors are discussed, along with newly added entities to the classification system. Salient clinical and imaging features that may allow for improved diagnostic accuracy or to narrow the imaging differential diagnosis are covered. Advanced imaging techniques are discussed, with a focus on diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast imaging and their potential to help characterize soft tissue tumors and aid in distinguishing malignant from benign tumors.

Application of DMAIC Cycle and Modeling as Tools for Health Technology Assessment in a University Hospital

Background

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is used to evaluate health services, manage healthcare processes more efficiently, and compare medical technologies. The aim of this paper is to carry out an HTA study that compares two pharmacological therapies and provides the clinicians with two models to predict the length of hospital stay (LOS) of patients undergoing oral cavity cancer surgery on the bone tissue.

Methods

The six Sigma method was used as a tool of HTA; it is a technique of quality management and process improvement that combines the use of statistics with a five-step procedure: “Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control” referred to in the acronym DMAIC. Subsequently, multiple linear regression has been used to create two models. Two groups of patients were analyzed: 45 were treated with ceftriaxone while 48 were treated with the combination of cefazolin and clindamycin.

Results

A reduction of the overall mean LOS of patients undergoing oral cavity cancer surgery on bone was observed of 40.9% in the group treated with ceftriaxone. Its reduction was observed in all the variables of the ceftriaxone group. The best results are obtained in younger patients (−54.1%) and in patients with low oral hygiene (−52.4%) treated. The regression results showed that the best LOS predictors for cefazolin/clindamycin are ASA score and flap while for ceftriaxone, in addition to these two, oral hygiene and lymphadenectomy are the best predictors. In addition, the adjusted R squared showed that the variables considered explain most of the variance of LOS.

Conclusion

SS methodology, used as an HTA tool, allowed us to understand the performance of the antibiotics and provided variables that mostly influence postoperative LOS. The obtained models can improve the outcome of patients, reducing the postoperative LOS and the relative costs, consequently increasing patient safety, and improving the quality of care provided.

Head and neck sarcoma: three-year data from a tertiary referral centre

INTRODUCTION

Sarcomas of the head and neck are neoplasms arising from the embryonic mesenchyme. They are rare and heterogeneous in nature and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study evaluates patients referred to the Oxford Sarcoma Service, a tertiary referral centre.

METHODS

Patients discussed over a three-year period were included. Medical records were analysed using the electronic patient record database. Data were acquired on a range of domains, including: demographics, histopathology, treatment modality, recurrence, mortality, survival, etc.

RESULTS

Thirty-two eligible patients, 21 male and 11 female, were identified with a mean age of 58 years; 26 out of 32 patients had high-grade sarcomas. The commonest histological subtype was chondrosarcoma (8/32). Twenty-two underwent planned multidisciplinary team surgical resection after biopsy and staging: negative margins were noted in 9, with close and involved margins in 5 and 8, respectively. Local recurrence was noted in 13 and 6 had metastatic disease out of the 32 eligible patients. Mortality was noted in 10 out of 32 patients. Mean survival was 69.5 months. Five-year overall survival was 64%. Surgery demonstrated statistically significant improvement in survival (p=0.0095). There were no significant differences in survival, recurrence or marginal status between methods of adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSION

Outcomes of head and neck sarcomas are inferior compared with other types of sarcoma. The nature of the complex surrounding anatomy presents unique challenges in surgical management. This in turn affects rates of local recurrence and prognosis. Therefore, it is critical that they are managed in tertiary, specialist centres with a multidisciplinary approach.

An Aggressive growth of cranial sarcoma

Sarcomas are a group of rare malignant tumours of the connective tissues. They can occur in almost any location, but more frequently in the extremities. The occurrence of sarcomas in the head and neck region is less than 1%. We are presenting a case report of a very large cranial sarcoma. Gross total tumour excision was done with pedicle skin graft and titanium mesh cranioplasty. The excised tumour weighed approximately 1.1 kg. Histopathological examination showed primitive intermediate-sized tumour cells arranged in sheets, nests and cords with focal palisading. Postoperative MRI done 2 weeks post surgery showed no evidence of residual tumour.

Diagnostic use of fine-needle aspiration cytology and core-needle biopsy in head and neck sarcomas

The diagnostic role of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and core-needle biopsy (CNB) has not been comprehensively assessed in head and neck sarcomas. A systematic review of published cases (1990-2020) was conducted. Diagnostic performance of both FNAC/CNB to determine tumor dignity and histopathological diagnosis was calculated. One hundred and sixty-eight cases were included for which FNAC (n = 156), CNB (n = 8), or both (n = 4) were used. Predominant histologies were skeletal muscle, chondrogenic and vascular sarcomas. FNAC correctly assessed dignity in 76.3% and histology in 45% of cases. Dignity was significantly better for vascular tumors, metastatic and recurrent specimens, and worse for chondrogenic sarcomas. CNB showed a 92% accuracy to identify dignity and 83% for histopathology. FNAC and CNB are useful methods for the diagnosis of head and neck sarcomas, particularly well-suited in the context of recurrent or metastatic disease. The role of CNB remains largely unexplored for this indication.

Head and Neck Tumors: Management of Primary Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma

INTRODUCTION

Sarcomas account for 1% of all tumors originated in the head and neck regions in adults. They constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors of mesenchymal origin with multiple histological variants. The undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) subtype is the most frequent variant with an incidence range of 2.7-38%.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective case series was conducted on 11 patients who were diagnosed with UPS and treated in our institution in the last 11 years.

RESULTS

According to the results, 26.8% of the sarcomas corresponded to UPS variant. Out of 11 patients, 5 cases were female. The median age of the participants was 58 years (range: 18-74 years). Seven and four patients were T1b and T2b, respectively. Ten patients had no metastasis at the moment of diagnosis. Six patients were categorized as intermediate-grade, and the remaining (n=5) were classified as high-grade. The most frequent location was the scalp (n=3). In the patients undergoing surgery, the mean follow-up duration was 52 months. Disease-free survival (DFS) rates were obtained at 70%, 50%, and 50% in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th years, respectively, with the mean DFS of 36 months. In addition, the overall survival rates in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th years were 100%, 100%, and 83%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The UPS represented the most common histological subtype in our series. They tend to be intermediate or high-grade tumors. An acceptable global survival rate justifies surgical treatment as the main therapeutic tool.

Sarcomas of the mandible

INTRODUCTION

Sarcomas of the mandible are extremely rare tumors, with osteosarcoma being the most common, followed by Ewing's sarcoma MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the clinical records, imaging studies, and pathology slides of patients with sarcoma of the mandible at a Tertiary Care Cancer Center from 1998 to 2014 was undertaken. The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy was studied, and factors impacting upon local control and disease-specific survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were treated over the study period, comprising of 15 males and seven females. External swelling, intraoral growth, or facial numbness were the presenting symptoms. Eighteen patients had osteosarcoma and four had the Ewing's sarcoma. Nine patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. All but one patient underwent surgery. Eleven had negative margins, with 90% recurrence-free survival at 3 years, compared to 10 with positive or close margins, leading to 67% recurrence-free survival. None of the patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy developed recurrence and all were alive at 3 years. The impact of postoperative radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Wide surgical resection with negative margins remains the hallmark of surgical treatment.

Leiomyosarcoma: Prognostic outline of a rare head and neck malignancy

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are mesenchymal malignant neoplasms with a broad spectrum of biologic behaviour. Most STS show predilection for extremities with rarity in head and neck. Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is an extremely rare STS in head and neck due to the paucity of smooth muscles in this anatomical region. Owing to its rarity, diagnosis of LMS is often delayed or is often misdiagnosed. Our study aimed to evaluate clinico-demographic factors determining clinical course of primary head-neck LMS. Further, we also assessed cases of secondary head-neck LMS and LMS due to other causes to compare their clinical outcome with primary head-neck LMS. In primary LMS cases, intraoral LMS showed slightly better prognosis than extraoral LMS. Survival analysis revealed that prognosis of primary LMS was significantly better than secondary LMS. No significant difference in survival was seen between primary LMS and LMS due to other causes. These observations indicate that site of origin appears to determine the clinical behaviour of LMS. Results showed that size, recurrence and metastasis are important prognostic variables. Though large tumor size was associated with poor prognosis, tumor aggressiveness may not be directly proportional to its size. Surgical management with or without adjuvant therapy was associated with favourable outcome. As several factors are associated with prognostic outcome of head-neck LMS, multimodality therapy approach after careful analysis of various prognostic variables in each case on an individual basis is essential.

Sarcomas of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region: Analysis of 26 Cases with Emphasis on Diagnostic Challenges

Sarcomas of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region (SOMR) are rare lesions which pose diagnostic and management challenges. We analyzed 26 cases of SOMR with respect to clinical presentation, histopathological subtype, treatment modalities, recurrence, and treatment outcome. In our series, Osteosarcoma (OS) was the most common type of sarcoma (7 cases), followed by 5 cases of Ewing's Sarcoma (ES), 3 cases each of Chondrosarcoma (CS) and Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), 2 cases each of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (MPNST), Pleomorphic Undifferentiated Sarcoma (PUS), Myeloid Sarcoma (MS)and Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Surgery was the primary treatment modality in most cases and was combined with adjuvant chemo/ radiotherapy in few cases. 24 of the 26 cases were followed up for an average period of 40.67 months. Adverse disease outcomes like recurrence were seen in 2 cases whereas death due to the disease was reported in 7 cases. In view of the diagnostic challenges faced in SOMRs, it appears practical to stress on the underlying genetic aspects of the disease process rather than histological subtyping to improve disease outcome.

A Patient With Submerged Sinonasal Angiosarcoma After Resection of Underlying Organizing Hematoma

A 30-year-old female patient with facial pain diagnosed as organizing hematoma of maxillary sinus by biopsy and imaging studies, and subsequently tumor was resected via an endoscope-assisted midfacial degloving approach. The tumor was histopathologically confirmed as organizing hematoma. In 3-week follow-up, asymptomatic emerging mass was observed at the same site, and needed a revision endoscopic resection. On pathologic examination, a low-grade angiosarcoma was identified, not organizing hematoma. After postoperative radiotherapy, she has been a status of no evidence of disease. This report emphasizes that complete and delicate resection of sinonasal tumor should be made to prevent recurrence and submerged malignant potential.

Aggressively progressing primary undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in the eyelid: A case report and review of the literature

RATIONALE

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma is extremely rare in the head and neck area, and the aggressive nature of this tumor has not been previously described.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Therefore, we report a unique case of a very rapidly growing primary undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in the eyelid. A 67-year-old woman presented with a left lower lid mass. She had no previous history of surgery, skin malignancy, or radiation to the eyelid. On initial presentation, the patient showed a 2 × 1 × 1 cm firm, yellow nodule in the left lower eyelid.

DIAGNOSES

We planned complete surgical removal of the mass; however, the patient was lost to follow-up. One month after the initial visit, the mass had markedly enlarged to 3 × 2.2 × 2.3 cm and a new 2 × 2 × 2 cm mass was observed in the left lower eyelid.

INTERVENTIONS

Complete surgical resection of the tumor was performed with a myocutaneous free flap. At that time, two masses were emerged, which had grown to 8 × 8 × 5 cm.

OUTCOMES

The patient died from sepsis caused by pneumonia 2 months after surgery without evidence of local recurrence.

LESSONS

Primary undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in the eyelid is extremely rare. Surgeons should be aware of this abruptly presenting, rapidly growing primary eyelid tumor and it is essential to excise the tumor completely as soon as possible.

Primary unclassified sarcoma of the parotid gland: a case of diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

Malignant salivary gland sarcomas represent a clinically and histologically diagnostic challenge. Primary unclassified sarcomas of the parotid gland consist a rare salivary gland tumor. We report an unusual case of such a tumor, which occurred in the right parotid gland of a 54-year-old male and presented as an asymptomatic painless mass. The pathologoanatomical examination revealed a rhabdoid large-cell unclassified sarcoma. The patient was treated with superficial parotidectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. No recurrence was noted in a 10-year follow-up period. Due to the rare occurrence of primary unclassified sarcomas, there is no evidence-based treatment of choice. An optimal approach is best planned in a multidisciplinary setting, taking into consideration the resectability of the tumor, individual patient characteristics, presence of local or distant metastatic activity, local infiltrative behavior and tumor stage. A close follow-up of the patient is strongly recommended.

Soft tissue sarcoma of the head & neck: nomogram validation and analysis of staging systems

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck (STSHN) comprise a rare group of malignancies. Our objective is to determine the utility of soft tissue sarcoma staging systems within the head and neck, and to validate an individualized soft tissue sarcoma nomogram within head and neck primary sites.

METHODS

Previously-untreated patients with STSHN diagnosed and treated between 1982 and 2012 were eligible (n = 319, median follow-up 46 months). Clinical variables were extracted from a prospectively-maintained database. The performance of AJCC/UICC and MSK staging systems and a soft tissue sarcoma-specific nomogram were assessed.

RESULTS

Four-year overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 72%, 76%, and 71%, respectively. AJCC/UICC and MSK staging systems accurately stratified outcomes (OS, DSS, and RFS; P < 0.001 for all comparisons). The nomogram stratified outcomes by quartile (P < 0.001), and predicted risk of death at 4, 8 and 12 years (P < 0.001). Concordance indices for overall survival for the AJCC/UICC system, MSK system, and the nomogram were 0.71, 0.70, and 0.78, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Oncologic outcomes among groups of patients with STSHN can be accurately predicted using both the AJCC/UICC and MSK staging systems. A soft tissue sarcoma-specific nomogram provides reliable, individualized prognostic information for patients with STSHN.

Needle biopsy of mesenchymal lesions of the head and neck: Evolving concepts and new strategies for diagnosis

Sarcomas are a rare and heterogeneous group of neoplasms that can be a significant diagnostic challenge in routine practice. Recent advances in the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying oncogenesis have led to an array of novel diagnostic tools. Here we review several sarcomas of the head and neck region, focusing on neoplasms with new molecular findings and highlighting novel diagnostic tools.

Giant undifferentiated oropharyngeal sarcoma: a case report and review of the literature

We report on a patient who presented to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic with swelling of the neck, dysphagia, headache, dyspnea and stridor. Imaging studies revealed an expansive heterogeneous process to the left retropharyngeal region. The mass was ovoid in shape, displaying moderate enhancement after intravenous contrast administration. Subsequently, a biopsy revealed the presence of undifferentiated sarcoma. The patient was treated with chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy, but follow-up exams at 6 months posttreatment revealed that while the tumor was stable, it persisted. Consequently, the patient was enrolled in a palliative care and pain control program and is currently being followed.

Primary sarcomas of the salivary glands: case series and literature review

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal malignancies of salivary origin are rare and are histologically diverse. We reviewed our experience with these tumors, as well as the published literature, with an emphasis on treatment modalities and prognosis.

METHODS

We identified 17 patients treated for malignant mesenchymal cell tumors at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1990 and 2007. We compared our results to the literature from January 1990 to July 2010.

RESULTS

Tumors were located primarily in the parotid gland and were primarily T1 tumors (<5 cm). All patients were treated with surgical resection, and 13 patients were given adjuvant therapy. Seven patients (41%) had recurrence, and 4 developed distant metastases. The overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 42% and 20%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case series and literature review show that sarcomas of the salivary glands have a high rate of recurrence and are associated with a poor prognosis.

Pediatric transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal malignancy: a case report

The treatment of oropharyngeal malignancy is associated with numerous functional morbidities. Transoral robotic surgery has been used with increased frequency in adult oropharyngeal malignancy. The benefits include decreased surgical morbidity and improved functional outcomes. Use of transoral robotic has been limited in children. This case represents our experience with a 17-month old child who was diagnosed with a high-grade undifferentiated sarcoma of the soft palate. She was able to be successfully treated with transoral robotic surgery as a part of her multimodal therapy, representing the first case of transoral robotic surgery for an oropharyngeal malignancy in a young child.

Head and neck soft tissue sarcoma

Sarcomas are malignant neoplasms originating from mesodermal tissues and constitute less than 1% of body's tumors, including those of the head and neck region. 5-15% of adult sarcomas are in the head and neck region (20% from bones and cartilages and 80% in soft tissues). Commonly encountered sarcomas in the head and neck region are - osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma and angiosarcoma. This article reviews the available literature on head and neck sarcomas.

External ear sarcoma: a review of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result (SEER 17) database

Soft-tissue sarcomas arising in the skin of the external ear have a better prognosis than might be expected based on the behavior of other sarcomas. Currently there are a few major case series analyzing soft-tissue sarcomas and the factors related to their prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the behavior of these tumors and attempt to define factors affecting prognosis. We extracted data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) 17 Registry and identified a total of 297 patients with sarcoma of the external ear who were included in the registry from 1973 to 2004. Of these, 176 (59.3%) patients were diagnosed with malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Dermatofibrosarcoma was the second most prevalent soft-tissue sarcoma (56 patients; 18.9%), followed by leiomyosarcoma (27 patients; 9.1%). The overall 5-year survival rate of patients with all histologic types of STS of the external ear was 78.5%.

Leiomyosarcoma of the head and neck: a population-based analysis

OBJECTIVES

To describe the characteristics of head and neck leiomyosarcoma and to identify factors associated with survival.

DESIGN

Retrospective population-based study.

PATIENTS

The 17-registry Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify 578 patients with leiomyosarcoma of the head and neck.

INTERVENTIONS

Surgery and primary and adjuvant radiotherapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patient demographics and tumor characteristics were examined. Treatment modalities were compared, and survival was assessed using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis was 64 years. Most tumors were smaller than 5 cm in greatest dimension (87%) and high grade (44% were moderately differentiated and 39% were poorly differentiated). The primary tumor demonstrated deep extension in 39% of cases, and 2% had lymph node metastases. The most common primary site was the skin and soft tissue of the head and neck (83%). Surgical treatment was provided to 89% of patients, 14% received adjuvant radiotherapy, and 4% received radiotherapy alone. The median observed survival was 84.7 months. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 87.6% in patients with well-differentiated tumors, 85.7% in patients with moderately differentiated tumors, and 52.7% in patients with poorly differentiated tumors (P < .001). Survival was better for patients who received surgery alone (median survival, 100.1 months [n = 413]) than for those who received radiotherapy alone (median survival, 16 months [n = 16]) or adjuvant radiotherapy (median survival, 64.2 months [n = 80]) (P < .001). The latter group was more likely to have poorly differentiated, large, locally invasive tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Leiomyosarcoma typically presents in older patients; it is often poorly differentiated; and improved survival is associated with surgical treatment.

[Head and neck sarcomas. Our experience]

INTRODUCTION

Head and neck sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of malignant tumours that vary greatly in clinical presentation, with different histopathological and biological characteristics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients with sarcoma located in the head and neck treated in our centre over a period of 25 years.

RESULTS

During the study period, a total of 25 patients were diagnosed with sarcomas in the head and neck, accounting for 0.5% of all malignancies at this level. The most common treatments included surgical resection of the tumour, often supplemented with radiotherapy and/or adjuvant chemotherapy. The final local control, including the salvage, was 52%, with an adjusted survival of 51% at 5 years and 32% at 12 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical treatment of patients with head and neck sarcomas achieves acceptable results of local control and survival.

Adjuvant radiotherapy for pediatric and young adult nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the prognostic factors, outcomes, and complications in patients aged ≤30 years with resectable nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma treated at the University of Florida with radiotherapy (RT) during a 34-year period.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 95 pediatric or young adult patients with nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma were treated with curative intent with surgery and RT at the University of Florida between 1973 and 2007. The most common histologic tumor subtypes were synovial sarcoma in 22 patients, malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 19, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in 11 patients. The mean age at RT was 22 years (range, 6-30). Of the 95 patients, 73 had high-grade tumors; 45 had undergone preoperative RT and 50 postoperative RT. The prognostic factors for survival, local recurrence, and distant recurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 7.2 years (range, 0.4-30.5). The actuarial 5-year local control rate was 88%. A microscopically negative margin was associated with superior local control. Although 83% of local recurrence cases initially developed in the absence of metastases, all patients with local failure ultimately died of their disease. The actuarial estimate of 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival was 65% and 63%, respectively. Of all the deaths, 92% were disease related. An early American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, tumor<8 cm, and the absence of neurovascular invasion were associated with superior disease-free survival. The National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, version 3, Grade 3-4 treatment complication rate was 9%. No secondary malignancies were observed.

CONCLUSION

In the present large single-institution study, we found positive margins and locally advanced features to be poor prognostic factors for both local progression and survival. The results from the present study have helped to characterize the therapeutic ratio of RT in pediatric and young adult sarcoma patients and have provided a basis for identifying high-risk patients for whom treatment intensification might be justified.