Multidisciplinary therapy consisting of minimally invasive resection, irradiation, and intra-arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil for resectable T3/T4 maxillary sinus carcinomas

Abstract

[Background] Current goals for the treatment of maxillary sinus carcinoma include preservation of vision, eating, communication, and appearance as well as cure. [Methods] 121 Japanese patients who presented with maxillary sinus carcinoma between 1979 and 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 77 males and 44 females, with a median age of 63 years. All patients underwent multimodality therapy including surgery through a sublabial incision, radiotherapy, and intra-arterial chemotherapy. The regional lymph nodes were treated only in patients with neck involvement. [Results] Mean follow-up period was 79 months. The 5-year overall survival rates and local control rates were 73% and 72%, respectively. The 5-year local control rates for patients with T2 lesions were 71% ; for patients with T3 lesions, 88% ; and for patients with T4a lesions, 60% ; and for patients with T4b lesions, 56%. In patients with squamous cell carcinoma, the 5-year local control rates were 76%. In patients with non-squamous cell carcinoma, the 5-year local control rates were 54%. There was significant difference in local control rates among these groups. [Conclusions] Control of the primary site is important in the curative treatment of maxillary sinus carcinoma. Combined therapy with conservative surgery, radiotherapy, and regional chemotherapy is an effective method for maxillary sinus carcinoma.