title: Head and neck sarcoma: analysis of 29 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcome of patients suffering from head and neck sarcomas and to identify indicators of outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 43 patients treated between 2000 and 2010 were analyzed. All patients were suffering from primary head and neck sarcoma. The final study sample included 29 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean survival was 56 months. Overall 2- and 5-year survivorship was 69% and 31% respectively. Parameters positively influencing survival were: male gender; non-smoker; alcohol consumption; age <18 years; tumor size <5 cm; location (nasal pyramid, jaw and maxillary sinus). Rhabdomyosarcoma and synovial sarcoma were the histological forms positively influencing prognosis. Age was the only parameter significantly influencing survival (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present overall 5-year survivorship was similar to the lower limit of the available literature data. Age was the only proven indicator of outcome. In order to have more reliable data it is essential to set up broader databases.
authors.affiliation: ENT department, Coimbra university hospitals, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: jpbarosa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barosa
authors.affiliation: ENT department, Coimbra university hospitals, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: jcarlosribeiro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Pathology department, Oporto oncology institute, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: lpafonso@gmail.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.affiliation: ENT department, Oporto oncology institute, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: joaonvfernandes@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: ENT department, Oporto oncology institute, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: euricofmonteiro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Head and neck; Sarcoma; Survival