Experience with the treatment of head and neck soft tissue sarcomas in adult patients

Abstract

Soft tissue head and neck sarcomas are a heterogeneous and uncommon group of malignancies that arises from the connective tissue. Due to the proximity of vital structures in this region, its surgical resection represents a challenge for the surgeon. Our objetive was to describe surgical management and outcome of a series of six adult patients with head and neck sarcomas. We reviewed clinical records and pathological reports. The mean age was 47.5 years (range 18 - 78), and 5 were male. Locations of the primary lesions were: posterior neck in 2 cases, scalp in one, superior maxilla in one, pterigo maxillar space in one, lateral neck in one. All the cases were high grade tumors. The pathologic types were: high grade mixofibrosarcoma, 2; indifferentiated sarcoma, 1; high grade pleomorphic sarcoma, 1; high grade leiomyosarcoma, 1; and extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (PNET), 1.