RESULTS OF TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH MAXILLARY SINUS CARCINOMA

BACKGROUND, Information regarding results of treatment and possible pr ognostic factors in patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma is limited . METHODS. Between 1969-1995, 48 consecutive patients presented to the study department for curative treatment of maxillary sinus carcinoma. Tumor classification according to the American Joint Committee on Can cer staging system was T1 in 1 patient, T2 in 6 patients, T3 in 17 pat ients, and T4 in 24 patients. The N classification was NO in 43 patien ts, N2a in 1 patient, N2b in 3 patients, and N2c in 1 patient. Treatme nt to the primary site was comprised of surgery (Sx) and radiation the rapy (RT) in 1 patients and RT alone in 11 patients. RESULTS. There wa s a difference in disease free survival between patients who underwent Sx + RT compared with patients who received RT alone; combined therap y results were more favorable. The most common pattern of recurrence w as in the primary site, which was found in 22 of 48 patients (45.8%). For patients who underwent Sx + RT, local control at 3 and 5 years was 65.2% and 59.2%, respectively: for patients who received RT alone, lo cal control at both 3 and 5 years was 22.7%. There were 12 late compli cations found in 8 patients: fistula formation (5 patients), trismus ( 3 patients), osteonecrosis (1 patient), retinopathgy (1 patient), cell ulitis (1 patient), and nasal stenosis (1 patient). CONCLUSIONS. The t ype of treatment to the primary site is an important determinant of di sease free survival and local control. Failure at the primary site is the main problem in the curative treatment of patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma; efforts to improve survival in these patients should be directed toward improvement of local control. Cancer 1998;83:457-65 . (C) 1998 American Cancer Society.