title: Clinical features and outcomes of young patients with head and neck non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The history, prognostic factors, and outcome of young patients with head and neck non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS) have not been adequately characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of 58 patients with head and neck NRSTS treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of tumors were ≤5 cm and high grade. Lymph node and/or distant metastases were present in 17% at presentation. Patients received a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The 10-year event-free and survival rates were 53.1% ± 7.3% and 63.2% ± 7.1%, respectively. Features associated with inferior survival included high histologic grade (p = .006), tumor diameter >5 cm (p < .001), invasiveness (p < .001), and incomplete resection at diagnosis (p = .005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most head and neck NRSTS in young patients are small, high grade, and nonmetastatic. The outcome is poor compared to NRSTS at other anatomic sites. Innovative approaches to local control and improved systemic therapy are needed.
authors: Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Pediatrics University of Tennessee, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors: Sara M
authors: SM
authors: Federico
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Gilpin
authors: Sandeep
authors: S
authors: Samant
authors: Catherine A
authors: CA
authors: Billups
authors: Sheri L
authors: SL
authors: Spunt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: head and neck; non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS); pediatrics; soft tissue sarcoma