Head and Neck Sarcomas

The overwhelming majority of cancers in the head and neck region (80-90%) are of epithelial origin, while lymphoma is the next most common.  Soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck region are rare tumors, representing only 1-10% of all cancers of the head and neck region and approximately 5% of soft tissue sarcomas throughout the body.  These tumors often present as painless masses with a variable growth rate, but can present with symptoms attributable to impaired form or function of surrounding normal structures. 

The main therapy for soft-tissue sarcomas of the head and neck is surgical resection.  The difficulty with surgical resection of these tumors in the head and neck region relates to the close proximity of important vital organs as well as the cosmetic and functional consequences from such radical procedures. 

Sarcomas of the head and neck region represent a broad group of tumors with distinct prognoses.  At the Huntsman Cancer Institute of the University of Utah School of Medicine, head and neck soft tissue sarcomas are approached from a multidisciplinary team approach.  Each case undergoes rigorous evaluation including pathologic analysis and a thorough discussion amongst the variety of members on the Sarcoma Team.  At the Huntsman Cancer Center, we continue to be a major referral center for these rare but deadly cancers in the intermountain west and beyond, and continue our ongoing state-of-the-art sarcoma research in an attempt to find a cure.