[Malignant tumors of the ethmoid sinuses--treatment and prognosis]

From 1981 to 1987, 15 cases of malignant tumors of the ethmoid sinuses were treated by radiotherapy, either with or without chemotherapy. Pathologically, these cases consisted of 7 squamous cells ca., 2 transitional cells ca., 3 anaplastic ca., 1 adenoid cystic ca., 1 malignant teratoma, and 1 rhabdomyosarcoma. The three-year survival in all cases 37%. Of eight patients determined to be in stages I and II, 4 patients had a localized relapse locally within 10 months after treatment and a distant metastases developed at a later time in 4 patients, whereas in 7 patients in stage III and IV, a distant metastases developed in 5 patients immediately after radiotherapy.