Salivary gland carcinomas - Prognostic factors

A retrospective study of factors of prognostic significance for clinical co urse and survival was performed using uni- and multivariate analyses in 251 patients with primary salivary gland carcinoma admitted during the period 1958-1992. Univariate analyses indicated that site of primary tumour, histo logy, clinical stage, presence of node metastases at primary diagnosis, and status of surgical margins were important prognostic factors for cause-spe cific survival, locoregional control and distant metastases. Multivariate a nalyses confirmed that histology was important for both locoregional contro l and cause-specific survival, whereas primary site was only of importance for locoregional control. Presence of node metastases at diagnosis was more important for locoregional control than clinical stage, whereas clinical s tage was the most important factor for cause-specific survival. Status of s urgical margins was of major importance for both cause-specific survival an d locoregional control. Radiotherapy in addition to surgery improved locore gional control only, whereas survival was not affected.