Squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus

A retrospective analysis of 59 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus, which were treated either with radiation alone or combined surgery and radiation, was performed. Fifty-six cases (95%) had T3 and T4 lesions. Our results show that six (66.6%) of nine of T3 and T4 lesions were controlled by combined therapy, while radiation alone controlled 15 (34%) of 44 of T3 and T4 lesions. Five-year actuarial survival of T3 and T4 patients treated with combined therapy was 75% and 33.3%, respectively, while survival of T3 and T4 patients treated with radiation alone was 38.4% and 33.2%, respectively. The five-year actuarial survival for the whole series was 39.3%. It is our opinion that better results could be obtained with surgery followed by radiation therapy in selected cases.