ABSTRACT
Sarcomas of the head and neck constitute less than 1% of head and neck malignancies. The rarity of these tumours may lead to a delay in diagnosis or improper initial management that may have untoward consequences. Multidisciplinary management of these patients is essential in order to facilitate diagnosis, formulate a treatment plan and optimize outcome. The literature on head and neck sarcoma is sparse. Fortunately, the treatment of these tumours has been studied more extensively in other parts of the body. Concepts of pathogenesis and treatment may be borrowed from other sites and applied to the head and neck. This is especially true of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities and superficial areas of the trunk. In these sites, randomized trials on treatment have been carried out. Published series in the literature of head and neck sarcoma are available. However, these reports often mix paediatric and adult cases, various histology and a wide range of time periods. This makes interpretation of data for the care of the individual patient more difficult.
