Ds. Vege et al., MALIGNANT PERIPHERAL-NERVE SHEATH TUMORS OF THE HEAD AND NECK - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY, Journal of surgical oncology, 55(2), 1994, pp. 100-103
Twenty-seven cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors involvi
ng the head and neck region over a period of 7 years were reviewed. Th
ey were graded from 1-3 based on necrosis, mitosis, cellularity, and p
leomorphism. Mean age of occurrence was 42 years, with a range of 12-7
0 years. Male preponderance was noted (M:F = 3.5:1). The most common s
ite of involvement was the neck (44.6%). The main presenting symptom w
as an enlarging mass. The nerve of origin could be identified in 33% o
f patients. Treatment consisted of wide excision. The 5-year observed
survival was 33%. Fifty-two percent of patients developed local recurr
ence of disease. Fifteen percent of patients died due to advanced loca
l disease within 18 months of treatment. Distant metastasis was seen i
n 18.5% of patients. Lymph node metastasis was not seen. At the end of
5 years 15% of patients remained disease free. Large tumor size (>5 c
m) adversely affected the prognosis (P = <0.1). No significant correla
tion was noted between the grade of tumor and survival. (C) 1994 Wiley
-Liss, Inc.