title: Involvement of the cavernous sinus by malignant (extracranial) tumour: palliation in six cases without surgery.
abstract: Involvement of the cavernous sinus region due to haematogenous spread or by local extension of a malignant head and neck tumour does not occur frequently. Six patients were treated by external beam radiation with (n=3) or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy between December 1989 and February 1996. Manifestations of the condition mainly consisted of fifth and sixth cranial nerve deficits (n=4). Complete resolution of cranial nerve deficits after therapy occurred in two of the four patients with only three individuals having been evaluable. Three of the six patients survived for more than 3 years. Thus, palliation can be achieved by chemoradiation or radiotherapy alone, and long term survival is not precluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 71130, USA.
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ampil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heldmann
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Balfour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D002426:Cavernous Sinus; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D010166:Palliative Care; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*