Multivariate survival analysis of 128 cases of oral cavity minor salivary gland carcinomas

Abstract

Background Minor salivary gland carcinomas are uncommon tumors of the oral cavity. The decision regarding treatment remains controversial. The main objective of this paper is to report on the survival results of 128 patients treated in a single institution. Methods Tumor sites were: hard palate (62 cases), tongue (16 cases), buccal mucosa (13 cases), soft palate (12 cases), and other sites (25 cases). The most common histology was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (76 cases). Clinically metastatic lymph nodes were palpable in 21 patients. Cox regression technique was used to construct the mathematical-statistical models, aiming to predict the risks of recurrence and of death as functions of the different variables under study. Results The 5-year overall survival rates were, respectively, 85.9% and 87.7% in the groups of patients treated by surgery or combined therapy. There were significant differences in survival rates according to N stage, bone involvement, tumor histology, sex, and type of surgery. Conclusions Most of the recurrences were at the site of primary tumor; neck metastases were rare at presentation and after initial treatment. Prognosis involves several factors related to stage, histology, and treatment. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 20: 699–706, 1998.