Salivary gland cancer in Finland 1991–96: an evaluation of 237 cases

Abstract

The study population consisted of 125 males and 112 females. The mean age was 59 years (males 61 years, females 58 years). Follow-up was at least 5 years. The commonest tumor location was the parotid gland (n = 152; 64%), followed by the minor salivary glands (n =46; 19%), the submandibular gland (n =38; 16%) and the sublingual gland (n = 1; 0.4%). The most frequent histological types of SGC were adenoid cystic carcinoma (n =65; 27%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n =45; 19%) and acinic cell carcinoma (n =41; 17%). Surgery, either alone or in combination with other treatment modalities, was used in 209 cases (88%). Radiotherapy was given to 136 patients (57%), 13 of whom (5%) did not undergo surgery. The 5-year overall survival rate was 56.5%, and for stages I-IV it was 78%, 25%, 21% and 23%, respectively (p <0.001; log-rank test). Of the commonest tumor types, the best 5-year relative survival rate was for patients with acinic cell carcinoma (96%), followed by those with mucoepidermoid (79%) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (74%).