Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the head and neck.
BACKGROUND
Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) of the upper aerodigestive tract is a rare malignancy of which the diagnosis, optimum treatment, and prognosis remain controversial. A series of 17 patients with SC is presented, along with an analysis of potential prognostic factors, outcome following treatment, and patterns of failure.


METHODS
Hospital charts and pathology material were reviewed in all cases. The end points chosen were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival, and local control above the clavicles.


RESULTS
There were 15 male and 2 female patients with a median age of 70 years. With a median follow-up length of 29 months, the median survival time was 32 months with an actuarial survival of 72% and 42% at 2 and 5 years, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
All recurrences were detected within 30 months from diagnosis. There was an OS advantage for patients with early-stage disease, patients with extralaryngeal presentations, and patients treated with surgery.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
E
E
Berthelet
G
G
Shenouda
M J
MJ
Black
M
M
Picariello
L
L
Rochon
D000368:Aged; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome