Management of cancer of the maxillary sinus

Cancer of the maxillary sinus is a relative rare malignancy. It occurs most frequently in the 50 to 70 year age group and is more frequent in males. Histologically, the majority of the tumors are of the squamous cell type. Diagnosis is rarely, if ever, made when it is still limited to the antral cavity. Cervical node metastases are found infrequently at the time of diagnosis. The most widely accepted treatment at the present time is radical surgery as the primary mode of therapy alone or in combination with radiation therapy. Five year survival figures are in the 20 to 30% range, indicating improvement, but yet falling considerably below the survival figures for cancer of other sites in the head and neck region.