Prognostic factors in patients with minor salivary gland carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to define prognostic factors and management of minor salivary gland carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx . METHODS: Retrospective analyses of patients with salivary gland carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx, treated in 1989 to 2006. Statistics included univariate analyses to identify prognostic factors associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival. A multivariate analysis model was constructed by the Cox method. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients constituted our cohort. Significant prognostic factors regarding DFS and disease-specific survival in univariate analyses comprised tumor size, surgical margins, grade, lymph node status, and Karnofsky status and T classification. A multivariate model identified tumor size, grade, surgical margins, and lymph node status significant regarding DFS. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor size, grade, surgical margins, and lymph node status could be used for a rational design of treatment strategies in these rare tumors.