Abstract
Objective: 1) Perform a comprehensive survey of the primitive malignant diagnoses of the salivary glands and characterize them in terms of clinical and biological behavior. 2) Draw conclusions on the treatment and disease control.
Method: Retrospective study with analysis of the patients with histological diagnosis of malignant epithelial disease of the salivary glands between 2000 and 2010 treated in Coimbra’s Portuguese Cancer Institute. Demographic information, location, risk factors, complementary evaluation, treatment modalities, histological features, follow-up, and failures were analyzed.
Results: Presented 55 cases, aged between 23 and 86 years old, 56% male. A total of 75% were located at the parotid, 20% in the submandibular and 5% in minor salivary glands. Only 2 patients were not submitted to surgical excision. Most patients were in Stage II and IV. There were 12 (22%) adenoid cystic carcinoma, 10 (18%) mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 10 (18%) adenocarcinomas, 7 (13%) acinic cell carcinoma, and 16 (29%) of several other entities. A total of 55% underwent radiation and 18% chemotherapy. Survival rates at 1 year were 95% and at 5 years 78%. Failures were observed in 42% (local and distant).
Conclusion: The analysis of these cases is in line with the literature--the stage of the tumor being the principal prognosis factor in salivary gland malignancies, even when dealing with different grade histology entities. Radiation seems to be an important option in controlling local disease.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.