Because the maxillary sinus is anatomically located adjacent to the orbit and skull base, it is difficult to remove the tumor completely with tumor-free margin not the same as in other malignant tumors in the head and neck. Traditionally, either aggressive resection, or radiotherapy, or both therapies combined have been the widely accepted modality of treatment with
their outcomes still far from satisfactory. Recently some advocated combination of intraaterial chemotherapy to the traditional regimen, with encouraging results. The goal of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination therapy of intraaterial chemotherapy, irradiation and surgery for maxillary cancer. Sixteen cases(median age of 54years) with maxillary cancer(all squamous cell carcinoma except one adenocarcinoma), whose tumor stages were classified as 1 in T1, 6 in T3, and 9 in T4, were treated with the combination therapy and followed up
retrospectively. The five-year survival rate by Kaplan-Meier method was 51.9%. The orbit, palate or cheek skin could be preserved in many cases and their functional result was satisfactory. No serious complication was observed. It is concluded that this combination therapy may prove to be another good regimen in treating maxillary cancer.
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