[Surgical treatment of head and neck chondrosarcomas].
BACKGROUND
Head and neck chondrosarcomas may adopt different locations and biological behaviour.


METHODS
We present a retrospective clinical series of 17 chondrosarcomas surgically treated in our Department from 1977 until 2006.


RESULTS
Chondrosarcomas were located in the nasosinusal area (n=6), larynx (n=5), petrous bone (n=3), atlas (n=1), parapharyngeal space (n=1) and trachea (n=1). All patients except for one underwent surgery with radical intention. The mean follow-up period was 84 months (median, 71 months). Six patients developed recurrent disease with a mean latency of 10 months. Two patients died due to the disease and two remained alive with evidence of tumour. Patients with grade I chondrosarcomas presented less recurrent disease than those with grade II or III chondrosarcomas (17% versus 80%, P=0.029). The estimated 5-year survival was 88% with the better survival of patients with grade I chondrosarcomas reaching statistical significance (P=0.023). In 2 patients with cricoid chondrosarcomas, the reconstruction was carried out using the Rethi-Ward technique, and they were without evidence of disease at 71 months (with no cannula) and 145 months (with cannula). Chondrosarcomas of the jugular foramen were treated using a modified infratemporal type A approach.


CONCLUSIONS
Low grade head and neck chondrosarcomas have a good prognosis while high grade chondrosarcomas tend to recur, despite radical surgical treatment.
Obeso
Sergio
S
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
Llorente
José Luis
JL
Díaz-Molina
Juan Pablo
JP
Sánchez-Fernández
Rafael
R
Rodrigo
Juan Pablo
JP
Suárez
Carlos
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery