Fibrosarcoma of the head and neck

Fourteen adult patients with fibrosarcoma of the head and neck were treated by the Division of Surgical Oncology at the University of Illinois and Cook County Hospitals. All patients had a mass in the head and neck area, and four patients (29%) had tumors in a burn scar or in a field of irradiation. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year disease-free rates were 57%, 57%, and 50%, respectively, with overall survivals of 79%, 71%, and 57%, respectively. The median survival was significantly higher for patients with low-grade tumors than for patients with high-grade lesions (P < 0.05). Wide surgical excision was the mainstay of therapy, with re-excision considered for some patients with locally recurrent disease. Aggressive treatment can afford fibrosarcoma patients good long-term therapeutic results.