[Malignant ethmoid-sphenoidal tumors. 130 cases. Retrospective study]

We report on 130 ethmoidal cancers. 96 (74%) were adenocarcinomas (ADKE). 110 were operated upon between 1984 and 1996: 9.1% T1 + T2, 27.7% T3, 36.2% T4a, 27% T4b. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 93 patients (76 ADKE). Combined surgical route was performed 103 times, sub-fronto-orbito-nasal (SFON) route 7 times. Post-operative radiotherapy was performed in 36 patients. Complete clinical and radiological response to chemotherapy was noted in 21.5% of cases (23% of ADKE). Post-operative mortality concerned one patient who died from a pulmonary embolism during the third post-operative week. Morbidity included: 3 transient clinical rhinorrheas, 5 meningitis (one of which was responsible for heavy psycho-intellectual disability), 4 deep suppurations associated with osteitis of the bone flap and two superficial suppurations. 44 patients had a local recurrence (10 ADKE). No recurrence appeared in complete chemoresponders. Systematic preservation of intra-orbital contents did not increase the risk of local failure. Eleven patients (4 ADKE) developed cervical nodes and/or systemic metastasis. Death occurred after a mean of three months following the diagnosis of metastasis. Survival rate was: 60% at 3 years, 51.5% at 5 years, 32.5% at 10 years. ADKE survival rate was: 55% at 3 years, 51.5% at 5 years, 23% at 10 years. Survival ws related to tumoral extension: 75% at 5 and 10 years for T3, 45% at 5 years and 38% at 10 years for T4a, 40% at 3 years and null at 5 years for T4b, 5 and 10 years survival rate of complete chemoresponders are 100% whatever the tumour. Prognosis remained poor for epidermoid carcinomas (survival rate: 36% at 3 years, 0% at 5 years) and for melanomas (mean survival: 19.6 months). Post-operative radiotherapy should be indicated for large tumors T3, T4a and T4b).