The role of chemotherapy for skull base carcinomas and sarcomas

The role of chemotherapy in the carcinomas and sarcomas that involve the ba se of skull is reviewed in this article. An established role exists for cis platin-based multimodality treatment in the definitive management of nasoph aryngeal carcinoma. Extrapolation from data generated for other head and ne ck squamous cell cancers also suggests a role for concomitant chemotherapy and radiation when these tumors involve the skull base. For the other neopl asms in this region, including the nonsquamous cell cancers of salivary gla nd and paranasal sinus, and the sarcomas and metastatic tumors, chemotherap y remains a palliative tool with limited overall benefit.