Ilson Sepulveda
General Hospital of Concepción, Chile
Title: Head and neck sarcomas: imaging diagnosis and treatment, our experience
Biography
Biography: Ilson Sepulveda
Abstract
Sarcomas are very rare among head and neck neoplasms and represent only 1% of all primary tumors. They occur in a wide range of age groups but most often in children, adolescents, and young adults. Several environmental exposures have been proposed as causative agents in the development of sarcomas. Current classification schemes attempt to group sarcomas into subtypes that are useful for determining prognosis and formulating treatment strategies. The vast majority of tumors, approximately 80% are of soft tissue origin, while the remaining 20% are of bony or cartilaginous origin. The histologic grade is a consistent predictor of prognosis and its importance is illustrated in the American Join Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for sarcomas. Imaging studies, Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) complement the physical examination in order to more accurately assess the size and location of the tumor. Since sarcomas are frequently associated with soft tissue invasion and bone destruction, CT and MRI are essential for preoperative staging and surgical planning in patients with these tumors. The general protocols for the management of sarcomas are not universally applicable to the head and neck region. The delicate anatomy of the head and neck limits the ability to obtain wide surgical margins. This may be the reason for higher local recurrence rates and worse disease-specific survival of head and neck sarcomas compared to sarcomas arising at other sites.