Combined therapy with surgery, radiotherapy, and regional chemotherapy for patients with non-squamous cell carcinomas

The pathological majority of maxillary sinus cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Patients with non-squamous cell carcinomas (NSCC) are rare. 105 patients who presented with maxillary sinus carcinoma between 1979 and 2006 were treated with combined therapy with surgery, radiotherapy, and regional chemotherapy. Among those, only 13 patients were diagnosed as NSCC. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were both 78% with SCC patients. On the other hand, the 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were both 59% with NSCC patients. The 5-year and 10-year local control rates were both 78% with SCC patients. On the other hand, the 5-year and 10-year local control rates were 51% and 41% with NSCC patients. There were significant differences in overall survival rates and local control rates among these groups. Especially, local control rates of patients with T4 NSCC showed poor results. Combined therapy with surgery, adiotherapy, and regional chemotherapy is an effective method for local control among SCC and non-advanced NSCC patients. However, performing combined therapy in patients with advanced NSCC disease must be considered carefully. (author)