Adult head and neck soft tissue sarcomas.

Abstract

The purpose was to determine the optimal treatment for adult patients with head and neck soft tissue sarcomas. We conducted a review of the pertinent literature. Local control after surgery alone or combined with radiotherapy was obtained in approximately 60% to 70% of the patients. The probability of local control is influenced by histologic grade, tumor size, and surgical margins. Patients with high-grade tumors and/or positive margins have improved local control if adjuvant radiotherapy is used. Distant metastases occurred in 10% to 30% of patients. The 5-year overall and cause-specific survival rates varied from approximately 60% to 70% and are affected by age, histologic grade, previous treatment of tumor, invasion of deep structures, and adequacy of surgery. The optimal treatment for adult head and neck soft tissue sarcomas is surgery. Adjuvant radiotherapy improves outcomes for those with high-grade tumors and/or positive margins. Radiotherapy alone will cure a small subset of patients with unresectable tumors.