Prognostic factors in malignancy of the minor salivary glands

Head Neck. 2009 Jan;31(1):58-63. doi: 10.1002/hed.20924.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors associated with minor salivary gland malignancies.

Method: This was a retrospective study of 171 patients. Statistical analysis of both clinical and pathological parameters with survival outcomes was performed.

Results: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (46.8%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (22.8%), and adenocarcinoma (18.7%) were the most common pathologies. The most frequent sites of primary tumor were in the oral cavity (44.4%) and nasal cavity (40.4%). The 5-year and 10-year overall survivals were 73.8% and 58.1%. Disease-specific survivals (DSS) were 78.2% and 66.7% and disease-free survivals (DFS) were 64.8% and 47.5%, respectively. Local recurrence rate was 26.9%, regional recurrence 7%, and distant failure was 18.7%. The grade of tumor was the only factor associated with DSS on multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: Overall and DSS of minor salivary gland malignancies were good. Surgery, either alone or in combination with radiation, was an efficacious treatment modality. High-grade tumors were associated with worse DSF.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / mortality*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth / pathology
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nasal Cavity / pathology
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / epidemiology
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salivary Gland Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Salivary Glands, Minor / pathology
  • Survival Analysis
  • Young Adult