Background: Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a highly malignant tumor
of the salivary gland. Methods: Twenty-six cases observed during the p
eriod 1975 to 1994 were selected from the pathology archives of the In
stitute Nazionale Tumori of Milan. A review of all the similar cases p
ublished in the literature and comparison with the present series was
performed. Results. SDC was mainly a parotid gland tumor diagnosed at
an advanced stage. Lymphatic involvement seems to be related to T stag
e. Distant spread was evidently related to the presence of lymph node
metastasis. Surgery with radiotherapy was the standard treatment. The
only demonstrable negative prognostic factor was the presence of node
metastases (p = 0.01). Conclusions. Most patients died of disseminated
disease in spite of an aggressive and often successful local-regional
treatment. The role of a prophylactic ipsilateral neck dissection and
adjunctive systemic treatment should be investigated. (C) 1997 John W
iley & Sons, Inc.