[Mesenchymal chondrosarcomas of the facial skull]

High-grade chondroblastic and fibroblastic osteosarcoma of the upper jaw

Osteosarcomas (OS) are extremely uncommon in maxillofacial region (6%-10% of all sarcomas). Jaw lesions are diagnosed on average two decades later than sarcomas of long bone, with a peak incidence between 20 and 40 years. Head and neck OS (HNOS) are associated with a lower metastatic rate than long bone OS, and they have a better 5-year survival rate, ranging between 27% and 84%. Approximately 80% of HNOS originate from soft tissues, while 20% arise from bone. The majority of OS were classified as osteoblastic HNOS (77.0%), followed by chondroblastic (15.8%) and fibroblastic (3.4%). Patients older than 60 years were more likely to be diagnosed with other histologic types compared with patients 60 years or younger. The authors describe a rare case of Stage II high-grade mixed chondroblastic and fibroblastic osteosarcoma of the upper jaw diagnosed in a subject older than 60 years. CT i.e., total body scintigraphy, radiograph of chest, and epathic ultrasonography have been executed to staging (T3N0M0). The size of the tumor >6 cm, histopathological findings, and patient older than 60 years, made necessary a multimodality therapy. Surgery (right subtotal maxillectomy with closure of surgical area by local sliding and advanced cheek flap) and adjuvant radiotherapy (for overall 6500 Gy) were the definitive treatment. Follow-up at 2 years shows no local recurrence and the patient is disease free.

[Interdisciplinary therapy management in malignancy of the paranasal sinus tumors in children]

BACKGROUND

Malignant tumors of the paranasal sinuses, such as rhabdomyosarcoma or Ewing's tumors, often have a mesenchymal origin. In the recent years, several prospective, randomized, multicenter studies have demonstrated a better outcome after new oncology therapy protocols.

PATIENTS AND RESULTS

In the period from January 2000 to June 2001, we operated 610 patients with sinus disease. Only 23/610 were children or teenagers (3.8%). Half of the juvenile group suffered from chronic sinusitis, but 5/23 (22%) had a malignoma of the paranasal sinuses. In the adult population, malignoma was diagnosed in less than 1% of cases. We diagnosed and treated, in cooperation with our radiology, pathology and children's hematooncology department, one rhabdomyosarcoma, two malignant peripheral neuroectodermal tumors (PNET), one myelosarcoma and one malignant lymphoma in the paranasal sinuses. Two patients died.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

These five cases of paranasal sinus malignomas are discussed in relation to their history and clinical course. We suggest that interdisciplinary treatment involving otorhinolaryngology, pathology, children's hematooncology, radiology and radiation therapy is obligatory for the therapy and for the best possible outcome of such cases.