[Sarcomatoid carcinomas of the upper airways].
BACKGROUND
The sarcomatoid carcinoma of the superior aerodigestive tracts is a rare malignant tumour which presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.


METHODS
We report 11 cases of spindle cell carcinomas of the upper airways.


RESULTS
Sex-ratio was 10:1 and the mean age was 57.3 years (30 - 75 years). Nine patients were smokers and 4 presented with a history of radiation exposure. Tumoral locations were as follows: larynx: 6, hypopharynx: 1, oropharynx: 1, nasopharynx: 1, oral cavity: 2. Histological diagnosis in 3 cases required the use of immunohistochemical studies. Four patients were first seen at an advanced stage. This left 9 patients and among them 7 received a curative treatment: 5 by surgery alone, 1 by surgery and radiotherapy, 1 by radiotherapy, 1 by chemo-radiotherapy for the nasopharyngeal lesion and 1 by chemotherapy alone. Two patients died from their disease before treatment. With an average delay of 15.4 months, the rates of global survival and disease-free were 5/9 and 4/9 respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The sarcomatoid carcinoma of the upper airways is rare, but not unusual. Its diagnosis benefits from progresses in immunohistochemistry, but also from advances in the field of molecular biology. Its treatment and natural evolution remain controversial.
Oueslati
Z
Z
Institut Salah Azaïz, Service de Chirurgie Carcinologique Cervico-Faciale et Oto-Rhino-Laryngologique, Tunis, Tunisie. zeineb.oueslati@rns.tn
Ben Miled
M
M
Hammoud
M
M
Touati
S
S
Lachkham
A
A
Gamoudi
A
A
Mokni
N
N
El Benna
F
F
Boussen
H
H
El May
A
A
Ladgham
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate