title: [Rare tumors of the head and neck; on behalf of the REFCOR, the French Network of rare head and neck tumors].
abstract: Malignant tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract may be rare by their histology (sarcoma, variants of conventional squamous cell carcinomas) and/or location (sinuses, salivary glands, ear, of various histologies themselves). They represent less than 10% of head and neck neoplasms. The confirmation of their diagnosis often requires a medical expertise and sometimes biomolecular techniques complementary to classical histology and immunohistochemistry. Due to their location, their treatment often requires a specific surgical technique. Radiation therapy is indicated based on histoclinical characteristics common to other head and neck neoplasms but also incorporate grade. Further, the technique must often be adapted to take into account the proximity of organs at risk. For most histologies, chemotherapy is relatively inefficient but current molecular advances may allow to consider pharmaceutical developments in the coming years. The REFCOR, the French Network of head and neck cancers aims to organize and promote the optimal management of these rare and heterogeneous diseases, to promote research and clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Tenon, service ORL-CCF, 4 rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baujat
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Tenon, service ORL-CCF, 4 rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thariat
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Tenon, service ORL-CCF, 4 rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Anne Catherine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Baglin
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Tenon, service ORL-CCF, 4 rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Costes
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Tenon, service ORL-CCF, 4 rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Testelin
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Tenon, service ORL-CCF, 4 rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reyt
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Tenon, service ORL-CCF, 4 rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Janot
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: diagnostic; expert; head and neck; management; network; rare tumor