Introduction:

Maxillectomy is required for the tumours arising in maxillary sinus, hard palate, upper alveolus or lateral aspect of the nasal cavity. The purpose of this paper is to present the experience in young adults undergoing maxillectomy for malignancy .

To study the histopathological profile and primary site distribution of the malignant tumors in young adults undergoing maxillectomy and also to study the factors influencing the survival after primary and salvage maxillectomy for malignancy

A retrospective analysis of young adults (18- 45 years) who underwent maxillectomy for carcinoma of the upper alveolus , maxillary sinus, hard palate or nasal cavity treated at a Cancer Center between 2002-2006.

Results:

Hard palate & upper alveolus were found to be the commonest site of tumor in the young patients. Squamous cell carcinoma was the major histological diagnosis. On multivariate analysis male patients and patients in 35- 45 year age group had a significantly better survival compared to females and patients < 35 years . The node positive cases had a significant poor survival compared to node negative cases and those treated with total maxillectomy showed a significantly better survival rate.

The patients in whom maxillectomy was done as a primary modality of treatment had better survival compared to salvage surgery patients although it was not significant statistically. The nodal status of these patients was a statistically significant factor adversely influencing the disease free survival.