Implication of Tumor Location for Lymph Node Metastasis in Maxillary Sinus Carcinoma: Indications for Elective Neck Treatment

The Role of Elective Nodal Irradiation in Treating Clinically Node-Negative Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine the role of elective nodal irradiation (ENI) in clinically node-negative (cN0) sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) and to define the optimal radiation fields for ENI.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We retrospectively reviewed 368 patients with cN0 SNSCC treated between 2009 and 2021. The study evaluated the impact of ENI on overall survival, progression-free survival, regional failure-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival, along with the coverage areas of ENI.

RESULTS

The majority of patients underwent surgery (316/368, 85.9%), with 276 of 368 (75%) having tumors in the maxillary sinus or nasal cavity and 249 of 368 (67.7%) presenting with T4 disease. Additionally, in 119 of the 368 cases (32.3%), tumors were poorly differentiated. The 5-year overall survival, progression-free survival, regional failure-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 59.3%, 54.0%, 57.6%, and 58.8%, respectively. ENI was performed in 217 patients (59%), with 16 experiencing neck relapse during follow-up. Although ENI did not enhance survival rates, it significantly reduced the overall regional failure rate (7.9% vs 1.8%; χ2 = 7.98; P < .01) and the cumulative incidence of regional failure (P = .045). Additionally, the subgroups with maxillary sinus origin (2.3% vs 13.5%; P = .025), T4 stage (1.8% vs 8.5%; P = .028), and poor differentiation (2.4% vs 13.5%; P = .029) had higher cumulative incidences of regional failure in patients without ENI. No significant difference was observed in survival and regional failure rates between patients treated with ENI to levels Ib and II with or without level III, as well as between cN0 patients with nonmidline crossing lesions receiving unilateral or bilateral ENI.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite no survival benefit, ENI significantly decreases the regional failure rate in patients with cN0 SNSCC. For primary lesions not crossing the midline, ipsilateral ENI targeting levels Ib and II proves to be an effective strategy.

Elective neck dissection versus elective neck irradiation in cT3/4N0 maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma (MS-SCC) is an infrequent malignancy, and determining the optimal neck management for patients with cT3/4N0 MS-SCC remains a topic of ongoing debate. The purpose of this study was to compare the prognoses and quality of life outcomes of patients who underwent either elective neck dissection (END) or elective neck irradiation (ENI) for cT3/4N0 MS-SCC.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we enrolled patients with surgically treated cT3/4N0 MS-SCC, and the impact of different neck management strategies on regional control and disease-specific survival was compared using propensity score matching. The effect of surgical intervention on quality of life was evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

Of the 120 patients included, 36 underwent END. After propensity score matching, our analysis indicated that END did not lead to superior outcomes than ENI, as demonstrated by comparable rates of regional control (p = 0.990) and disease-specific survival (p = 0.999). However, in the 70 returned questionnaires, patients who underwent END reported higher scores in the domains of appearance, chewing, and speech than did patients who underwent ENI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that while END and ENI contribute to similar prognoses, END yields superior functional outcomes.

Feasibility of ipsilateral elective neck irradiation of levels Ib and II without level III in patients with node-negative sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The necessity of level III irradiation in patients with node-negative advanced sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is unclear.

METHODS

Seventy-eight patients with advanced SNSCC were included. Survival rates were estimated and compared between treatment groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients received ipsilateral levels Ib and II irradiation (group 1) and 53 patients received ipsilateral levels Ib and II plus level III irradiation (group 2). The median follow-up time was 75.56 months. Five-year survival rates (regional relapse-free survival, overall survival, local relapse-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival) were similar between groups 1 and 2 (all p > 0.05). Irradiation doses to the thyroid and larynx were significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Ipsilateral irradiation of levels Ib and II neck provides similar regional control and results as irradiation of these levels plus level III, with lower irradiation doses to normal neck tissue, in patients with node-negative advanced SNSCC.

Radiologic criteria of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in maxillary sinus cancer

Objective

To determine the most appropriate radiologic criteria of metastatic retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs) in patients with maxillary sinus cancer (MSC).

Materials and methods

We retrospectively evaluated 16 consecutive patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus. The minimal and maximal diameters of all RLNS were recorded. RLNs were classified as metastatic on the basis of the MRI follow-up (f/u). RLNs were considered non-metastatic if stable disease continued until the final MRI f/u and metastatic in cases with different evaluations (complete response, partial response, progressive disease) determined using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) ver. 1.1. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the accuracy of various criteria in the diagnosis of metastatic RLNs.

Results

Of the 34 RLNs in 16 cases observed on pretreatment MRI, 7 were classified as metastatic RLNs and 27 as non-metastatic RLNs. Using the radiologic criteria, metastatic RLNs tended to be diagnosed more accurately with the minimal axial diameter than with the maximal axial diameter (AUC; 0.97 vs. 0.73, p = 0.06). The most accurate size criterion of metastatic RLNs was a minimal axial diameter of 5 mm or larger, with an accuracy of 94.1% (32 of 34).

Conclusions

The most appropriate radiologic criterion of metastatic RLNs in MSC is a minimal axial diameter of 5 mm or longer.

Invasion of the pterygoid plates: an indicator for regional lymph node failure in maxillary sinus cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term treatment results of combined superselective intraarterial chemotherapy and radiation therapy for advanced maxillary sinus cancer (MSC) and the incidence of regional lymph node failure, and to reveal the clinical and anatomical predictive factors for metastasis.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 55 consecutive patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus who were treated with external radiotherapy and superselective intraarterial chemotherapy. Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) was performed only in the clinical node-positive (cN+) cases and not in the clinical node-negative (cN0) cases.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were cN0, and 17 were cN+ at diagnosis. Regional lymph node metastases occurred in 7 of 38 patients with cN0, and 2 of 17 with cN+ during the median follow-up period of 36 months. There were more cases of high-grade (3 or 4) late adverse events in the ENI group than in the non-ENI group (13% vs. 41%, respectively; p = 0.03). In cN0 cases without ENI, invasion of the pterygoid plates (57% vs. 90%; p < 0.01) and oral cavity (35% vs. 92%, with invasion vs without invasion, respectively; p = 0.02) was significantly correlated with a low 5-year regional recurrence-free rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with MCS and invasion of the pterygoid plates and oral cavity can be considered appropriate candidates for ENI.

Dental considerations in diagnosis of maxillary sinus carcinoma: A patient series of 24 cases

BACKGROUND

Maxillary sinus carcinoma is a rare entity with an incidence of 0.2% and a low patient survival rate due to the frequency of late diagnosis.

METHODS

In this multicenter, transversal, retrospective, observational study, the authors analyzed patients who had received a diagnosis of maxillary sinus carcinoma, registering their oral symptoms, histologic type, treatment efficacy, and survival rate.

RESULTS

Maxillary sinus carcinoma was diagnosed in 24 patients (15 men and 9 women), of which 75% were squamous cell carcinomas. All patients had dental mobility, and some had swelling, orosinus fistula, or some dental loss. Mean patient survival rate was 38.83 months.

CONCLUSIONS

A history of pain or swelling of unknown origin, an unexplained widening of periodontal ligament space, or mobility of the teeth should be considered warning signs of maxillary sinus carcinoma.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Recognition of oral symptoms by the dentist would help in making an early diagnosis of maxillary sinus carcinoma, improving the patient's chances of survival and quality of life.

Elective neck treatment in clinically node-negative paranasal sinus carcinomas: impact on treatment outcome

Purpose

The indication of elective neck treatment (ENT) for clinically N0 (cN0) paranasal sinus (PNS) carcinoma remains unclear. We aimed to investigate different treatment outcomes regarding ENT and propose optimal recommendations for ENT.

Materials and Methods

We identified patients with cN0 PNS carcinoma who underwent curative-intent treatment between 1992 and 2015. Survival outcomes and pattern of failure were compared between patients who received ENT and those who did not. We sought to identify significant patient or pathologic factors regarding treatment outcomes.

Results

Among 124 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 40 (32%) received ENT (‘ENT (+) group’) and 84 (68%) did not (‘ENT (−) group’). With a median follow-up of 54 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 67%, and the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 45%. There was no significant difference between the ENT (+) and ENT (−) groups regarding OS (p = 0.67) and PFS (p = 0.50). Neither group showed a significantly different pattern of failure, including regional failure (p = 0.91). There was no specific benefit, even in the subgroups analysis by tumor site, histologic type, and T stage. Nevertheless, patients who ever had regional and/or distant failure showed significantly worse prognosis.

Conclusion

ENT did not significantly affect the survival outcome or pattern of failure in patients with cN0 PNS carcinomas, showing that ENT should not be generalized in this group. However, further discussion on the optimal strategy for ENT should continue because of the non-negligible regional failure rates and significantly worse prognosis after regional failure events.