Head-and-Neck Solid Tumors in Children: A Retrospective Review from a Tertiary Care Institute in North India.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to review the clinical profile, management, and outcome of solid tumors in the head-and-neck region in children at our institute.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed children with head-and-neck solid tumors who were treated jointly under the departments of Pediatric Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology at our institute between 2016 and 2019.

RESULTS

In the study period, 10 children (6 males, 4 females) with a median age of 9.5 years (range 5 days-16 years) were treated by our unit. The patients had four tumors arising from the parotid, 2 from nose/naso-pharynx, 1 each from the tongue, submandibular gland, para-pharyngeal space, and infratemporal fossa. A majority (90%) of the patients underwent complete surgical excision of the tumor, preserving the loco-regional neurovascular structures to minimize postoperative morbidity. Malignant lesions were seen in 4 patients (2 rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 primitive neuro-ectodermal tumor, 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma) and 6 patients had benign pathology (3 pleomorphic adenoma, 2 mature teratoma, 1 schwanomma). Additional therapy with chemotherapy and local radiotherapy was required in 3 out of 4 patients with malignant pathology. The median follow-up duration is 15 months. At last follow-up, all patients are alive and 9 out of 10 patients (90%) are disease-free.

CONCLUSION

Our experience highlights rare and difficult tumors in the head-and-neck region in children. These tumors are not commonly managed by the pediatric surgeon in routine practice. The paper outlines the multi-modality management of these tumors, which is essential for an optimal outcome.