Clinical prognostic factors of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma: A single-center analysis of 61 patients

Abstract

Purpose: Adenoid cystic carcinomas are rare malignant tumors of the salivary glands. They are characterized by a high rate of local recurrence, late distant metastasis and a poor disease-free survival. In this study, we analyzed a series of 61 patients who were all treated at the University of Göttingen over a period of 21.0 years.

Materials and methods: In all 61 patients with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, clinical data, demographic data, risk factors, tumor location, tumor stage, status of surgical margin, surgical treatment, postoperative radiotherapy and follow-up interval were assessed.

Results: The overall survival (OS) and the disease-free survival (DFS) of patients who underwent surgery and those who underwent combined surgery with radiotherapy showed no significant differences. Neither did the T-stage (T1/T2 vs. T3/T4) show significant differences in OS and DFS. Only the status of the surgical margin was significantly associated with a longer OS and a longer DFS.

Conclusion: The present results confirm that the radical surgical resection with clear tumor-free margins is the most important predictor for a longer survival. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be discussed from case to case, but should not be seen as an absolute prognostic factor for OS.

Keywords: Adenoid cystic carcinoma; Radiotherapy; Salivary gland; Surgery.