Prognostic factors in adult soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck: A single-centre experience

Adult soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck are rare and consist of a variety of histopathological subtypes and sites. The purpose of this study was to review patients treated for adult soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck at our institute. The medical records of 41 adult patients treated for head and neck soft tissue sarcomas between 1983 and 2004 were reviewed. Thirty-six tumours were histologically reviewed. Histopathological revision showed that 7% of the original sarcomas were found not to be sarcomas and 39% of the sarcoma subtypes changed. Multivariate analysis showed that surgical margin status and lymph node metastases are the most important prognostic factors. Review of histopathological examination of tumours showed a change in subtype in a substantial number of head and neck sarcomas. Negative surgical margins are an important prognostic factor, but are difficult to obtain in head and neck sarcomas.