Between Shadow and Light: The Experience of the Fann National University Hospital in Treating Maxillary Sinus cancers (Dakar, Senegal)

Fall F*, Danfa C, Mbaye A, Niang F, Niang CD, Barry M, H Ahmed, Ndour N, Ndiaye M, Sylla SI, Ndiaye C and Tall A

Introduction: Maxillary sinus cancers are a rare and complex pathological entity, often overlooked due to their low incidence and specific anatomical location. The study aimed to report epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical data and to evaluate the results of treatment. 

Methods: This is a retrospective, analytical, and descriptive study analyzing 79 cases of maxillary sinus cancer hospitalized and treated in the ENT department over 7 years, from January 2017 to December 2023. 

Results: The mean age of our patients was 49 years, and the sex ratio (M/F) was 1.27. The predominant symptoms included nasal obstruction (70%) and paranasal or palatal swelling, while advanced forms presented with ophthalmological signs in 22.22% of cases. A scan was performed in 69 patients (87.3%). The diagnostic certainty remains anatomopathological. Thus, 50.6% of cases were squamous cell carcinomas, followed by 16.5% adenocarcinomas. In terms of treatment, 45 patients underwent ipsilateral maxillectomy with reconstruction, supplemented by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in 37 patients and radiotherapy alone in 8 others. Overall survival was 56%, with two cases of tumor progression and one case of recurrence.

Overall survival was 56%. The cancer progression was marked by continued progression in two patients and one case of tumor recurrence. 

Conclusion: Maxillary sinus cancers, although rare, represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to their anatomical and clinical complexity. A multidisciplinary approach and increased vigilance are essential to optimize their management and improve patient prognosis.

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Published on: Dec 12, 2025 Pages: 26-30

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/2455-1759.000163
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