[Maxillary sinus cancer review in 23 patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the survival and outcome of maxillary sinus cancer in patients managed with surgery and post-operative radiotherapy during the last 10 years in our hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Descriptive, retrospective, non-randomized study of 23 patients with cancer of the maxillary sinus managed at the Vigo University Hospital Complex, Spain, with radical surgery and post-operative radiotherapy, between 1995 and 2004.

RESULTS

The 3-year actuarial survival was 47.8% and the adjusted actuarial survival was 60.8%. Permanent local tumour control was achieved in 60.8% of cases (14/23). Local tumour recurrence was the main cause of treatment failure (33.3%; 4/12). The most significant prognostic factors affecting local tumour control and survival were: clinical stage (P< .031), suprastructural location of the tumour (P< .001), and presence of positive resection margins (P< .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Local recurrence was found to be very high and generally the main cause of death. New treatment protocols should be assessed.