HEAD AND NECK SARCOMAS - A REVIEW

Sarcomas of the head and neck are rare. They present a challenge to th e head and neck oncologist that is frequently quite different from tha t found in epithelial, salivary, and endocrine malignancies of the hea d and neck. The focus of this article is on diagnostic criteria, progn ostic indicators, and therapy, and due to the large number of lesions, an in-depth review of the commonest: osteosarcoma (OS), chondrosarcom a (CS), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), fibrosarcoma (FS), malignant fibrous h istiocytoma (MFH), and synovial sarcoma (SS). Less common variants wil l also be mentioned. Twelve cases are presented, consisting of OS(2), RMS(1), CS(3), MFH(2), SS(2), FS(1), and miscellaneous(1). Conclusions consist of an enunciation of the general principles of management of sarcoma of the head and neck.