Head and Neck Sarcomas: Demographic and Histological Characteristics in a Tertiary Hospital of a Developing Country

Background: Head and neck sarcomas are rare connective tissue malignancies affecting all age groups and any of the anatomical sites of the head and neck region.

Aim: Is to describe the demographic, anatomic and histological characteristics of head and neck sarcomas.

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with histologic diagnoses of head and neck sarcomas seen in a Nigerian tertiary hospital, from January 2010 to December 2015. The retrieved data were reviewed for age, sex, types and sites of tumour origin and analysed statistically using predictive analysis software version 18.

Results: We reviewed a total of 51 cases, and these represented 3.2% of a total of 1,574 cases of head and neck malignancies diagnosed during the study period. Males 27 (52.9%) and Females 24 (47.1%). The median ages at presentation for adults and children were 28 and 6.5 years respectively. Age ranged from 8 days to 65 years. The majority of the patients were in their first (31.4%) and third (27.5%) decades. The soft tissue sarcomas 38 (74.5%) accounted for the majority of primary head and neck sarcomas. Osteogenic Sarcoma 13(25.5%) was the only hard tissue sarcoma reported. Thirty-one (60.8%) cases recorded in adults; osteogenic sarcoma 11(35.5%) was the most common and in children 20 (39.2%), the majority were rhabdomyosarcoma 17 (85%), and the least commonly reported case was a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour 1(5%).

The most common sites of primary head and neck sarcomas among children were the oral cavity 5 (25%) followed by the mandible 4 (7.8%). In adults, maxilla and the neck 5 (16.1%) respectively were the most common site.

Conclusions: Head and neck sarcomas are uncommon tumours. The most common histological type for adults and children were embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and osteogenic sarcoma respectively. Though any part(s) of the head and neck region can be affected, in adults patients, parameningeal site are more frequently involved.