Carcinoma of the maxillary sinus: the role of radiotherapy

From 1975 to 1986, 75 M0 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus were treated at the Department of Radiology, Tokyo University Hospital. The overall 5-year survival rate calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method was 24%. During the period of the study, the method of treatment used in our hospital changed. From 1975 to 1979 (the first period), the treatment of choice was low-dose irradiation and frequent necrotomy. From 1980 to 1982 (the second period), more extensive surgery was performed and 50 to 60 Gy of irradiation was given. The 5-year survival in the first period was 20%, that in the second 14%. From 1983 to 1986 (the third period), trimodal therapy (surgery + radiation + intra-arterial infusion) was introduced and 5-year survival was improved to 50%. Intra-arterial cisplatinum infusion and treatment planning using CT scans were especially useful in improving survival.