Osteosarcoma of the head and neck: a review of the Johns Hopkins experience.
OBJECTIVE
To determine factors including treatment modalities which influence survival in patients with osteosarcoma of the head and neck.


METHODS
Retrospective clinicopathologic study of 27 patients with osteosarcoma of the head and neck.


METHODS
The clinical charts and pathology slides were reviewed on 27 patients who had osteosarcoma of the head and neck between 1946 and 1998. The following variables were examined for their effect on survival: age of diagnosis, site of tumor, presentation, race, sex, prior radiation exposure, retinoblastoma history, margin status, and method of treatment.


RESULTS
The average age at the time of diagnosis of the patients was 37.6 years (range, 7-82 y). The sex distribution was similar with 14 male and 13 female patients. Eight of 27 patients had osteosarcoma of the mandible, 9 of 27 had osteosarcoma of the maxilla and paranasal sinuses, and in 10 of 27 patients osteosarcoma occurred elsewhere, including the temporal bones, occipital bones, and orbit. The overall 2-year survival was 66% with a 5-year survival rate of 55%.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive surgical margins and a high tumor grade were found to have a statistically deleterious effect on overall survival. There was no detectable effect on survival of age, race, sex, prior radiation exposure, tumor site, and tumor cell type. It was not possible to differentiate between the different adjuvant treatment modalities because of the small numbers in the study.
Ha
P K
PK
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Eisele
D W
DW
Frassica
F J
FJ
Zahurak
M L
ML
McCarthy
E F
EF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015142:Baltimore; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome