Head and neck soft tissue sarcomas treated with radiation therapy

Head and neck soft tissue sarcomas (HNSTSs) are rare and heterogeneous cancers in which radiation therapy (RT) has an important role in local tumor control (LC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes and patterns of treatment failure in patients with HNSTS treated with RT. A retrospective review was performed of adult patients with HNSTS treated with RT from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2012. LC, locoregional control (LRC), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and predictors thereof were assessed. Forty-eight patients with HNSTS were evaluated. Five-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of LC, LRC, DFS, and OS were 87, 73, 63, and 83%, respectively. Angiosarcomas were found to be associated with worse LC, LRC, DFS, and OS. Patients over the age of 60 had lower rates of DFS. HNSTSs comprise a diverse group of tumors that can be managed with various treatment regimens involving RT. Angiosarcomas have higher recurrence and mortality rates. LC of soft tissue sarcomas in the extremities.3 Limited published series describe the treatment and outcome of HNSTS.2,4-19 Even fewer reports address the role of RT in HNSTS.13,15 Defining optimal management of HNSTS is further complicated by the great heterogeneity within this diverse group of tumors, which possess a range of clinical and pathologic characteristics. 2 Herein, we report the outcomes, patterns of recurrence, and potential prognostic factors in patients treated for HNSTS with RT at our institution.