Squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus

Abstract

Eighty-five patients with squamous cell cancer of the maxillary sinus received all of their treatment at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between the years 1971 and 1986. Their records were evaluated according to stage, disease at presentation, symptoms and signs at presentation, treatment, and outcome. There were no differences in locoregional control or survival between groups treated with surgery alone vs surgery plus radiotherapy. Careful analysis of the data indicates that there was almost certainly some selection bias for the patients undergoing combination therapy, as most of this group had historically adverse prognostic factors identified. Those patients who underwent radiotherapy alone or chemotherapy presented with either metastatic or locally advanced disease and were treated with palliative intent; therefore, comparison between this group and standard therapy groups was impossible in this retrospective review. Although it is tempting to speculate that combination therapy improved locoregional control and survival in patients with more advanced disease, none of the data presented in this review reach statistical significance. Furthermore, there is no difference in survival in this population compared with a study at this institution 20 years ago. Squamous cell cancer of the maxillary sinus continues to be a challenging neoplasm. Radiotherapy may improve locoregional control and survival in a group of patients with more advanced disease and may have its greatest utility in earlier-stage disease. A multi-institutional prospective trial is needed to find ways to improve outcome in this patient population.