Sarcomas of the oral and maxillofacial region: a review of 32 cases in 25 years

Thirty-two cases of sarcomas involving the oral and maxillofacial region over a period of 25 years were reviewed. The age range was from 5 months to 77 years with a mean age of 42. The male to female ratio was 3:1. The sarcomas were located in the maxilla including the maxillary sinus (n=13), mandible (n=13), buccal mucosa (n=3), temporomandibular fossa (n=2), and submandibular region (n=1). Histologically sarcomas were classified as osteosarcoma (n=9), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (n=7), rhabdomyosarcoma (n=5), fibrosarcoma (n=3), plasmacytoma (n=2), leiomyosarcoma (n=2), angiosarcoma (n=2), liposarcoma (n=1), and ameloblastic fibrosarcoma (n=1). Surgical resection was performed in 29 cases. Local recurrence was found in 10 patients and metastasis in 11 patients. Metastases included five regional lymph node metastases and eight distant metastases. The survival of patients with local recurrence or metastasis was poor. Surgery is the most reliable treatment for sarcomas of the oral and maxillofacial region. Adequate excision with safety surgical margin as the initial therapy is important for better survival. The value of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy is uncertain. The 5-year survival rate of primary cases was 61%.