Clinicopathologic and prognostic factors in adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck minor salivary glands: A clinical analysis of 130 cases

Abstract

Purpose: This study was to investigate clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors in adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck minor salivary glands.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 130 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck minor salivary glands that were evaluated between 2000 and 2013 in Beijng Tongren Hospital.

Results: Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 80.8% and 55.6%. Local recurrence rate was 40%, regional recurrence 3.8%, and distant metastasis was 28.5%. On univariate analysis, solid histological subtype, perineural invasion, positive surgical margins and advanced stages were found to be poor prognostic indicators. On multivariate analysis, solid histological subtype and positive surgical margins were significant prognostic factors of worse overall survival.

Conclusions: Solid histological subtype and positive surgical margins were the most important predictors of poor outcome in adenoid cystic carcinoma of minor salivary glands. Surgery with postoperative radiation were recommended treatment and offered durable local control.

Keywords: Adenoid cystic carcinoma; Head and neck neoplasms; Minor salivary glands; Prognostic factors; Therapeutic modality.