Head and Neck Sarcomas - Our Experience at a Tertiary Care Center in Rabat, Morocco

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck sarcomas are rare, malignant and very heterogeneous tumors. The difficulty to manage these sarcomas requires the intervention of a multidisciplinary team to improve the prognosis. The aim of our study is to report our series (epidemiological, histological and progressive characteristics) and evaluate our treatment results. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study on 42 cases of head and neck sarcomas, assembled at ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery department in the University Hospital of Rabat, for a period of 5 years (2010-2015). All sarcomas were confirmed by histological examination with immunohistochemical study. Results: There were 29 men and 13 women. The average age of our patients was 35.5 years (extremes of age: 13 and 70 years). All patients received a CT scan with MRI scan in 21 cases. A remote extension assessment showed lung metastases in 8 cases. The most frequently found histological type was synovial sarcoma, which was noted in 13 patients (30.9%) followed by osteosarcoma (21.2%). The osteosarcoma treatment was curative in 19 cases, based on surgery with radiotherapy. Total remission was noted in twelve patients. Conclusion: Head and neck sarcomas are rare and very aggressive cancers with poor prognosis. The treatment approach combines surgery and chemoradiation. However, in the absence of adequate and effective treatment protocols, it is necessary to establish a surgical indication in time to ensure excision as complete as possible.