Prognostic Factors of Maxillary Sinus Malignancies

Abstract

Background Analysis of a series of tumors of the maxillary sinus show contradictory outcome data. The purpose of this article was to study the prognostic factors that may have implications for patient management. Methods We present a retrospective review of 57 patients who underwent a maxillectomy over a 20-year period. Results At the time of presentation, 86% of patients had advanced local disease (T3–T4). The 5-year disease-specific survival rate of this series was 39%. No significant differences on survival were observed according the histology of the tumor (p = 0.213), extension to the infratemporal fossa (p = 0.314), and postoperative radiotherapy (p = 0.723). Factors that revealed a significant reduction of survival were skull base involvement (p = 0.013), involvement of the orbit (p = 0.043), and recurrent disease (p = 0.048). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the skull base and orbital involvement were significantly associated with disease-specific survival. Conclusion Advanced T stage, base of skull involvement, orbital extension, and local recurrence are highly predictive of poor survival.