Carcinoma of the minor salivary glands: results of surgery and combined therapy.

PURPOSE

This article reports the results of treatment of 7 histologic types of minor salivary gland carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 256 cases, local excision was used in 194, extended excision in 62, excision accompanied by neck dissection in 98, and surgery with adjunctive radiation therapy or chemotherapy in 101. Forty-five of the 98 neck dissection cases had cervical node metastases.

RESULTS

Survival rates were analyzed for 233 patients. The 3-year survival rate was (167 of 215) (77.67%), the 5-year survival rate was 134 of 187 (71.76%), and the 10-year survival rate was 79 of 113 (69.91%).

CONCLUSIONS

These data confirm that surgery is still the mode of choice in the treatment of minor salivary gland carcinoma, but a combination with radiation therapy or chemotherapy is advisable in some patients.