Malignant epithelial tumors in the minor salivary glands, the submandibular gland, and the sublingual gland. Prognostic factors and treatment results.

Ninety-five malignant tumors in the submandibular gland, the sublingual gland, and the minor salivary glands seen in a 25-year period were reviewed. The patients were retrospectively staged using the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) classification. The most frequent tumor was adenoid cystic carcinoma, followed by adenocarcinoma. The submandibular gland was the most frequent location. Five-year and 10-year crude survival rates were 62% and 43%, respectively. Clinical stage was the most important prognostic factor. Survival was not correlated with location of tumor, although recurrence and metastases occurred more frequently in patients with cancer of the submandibular gland. Histologically, the 5-year and 10-year survival was significantly better for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma compared with the other types; however, although still significant, this difference diminished at 10 years, confirming the need for a long observation time for patients with this tumor.