FACTORS INFLUENCING SURVIVAL RATE IN ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMA OF THE SALIVARY-GLANDS

Ninety-one cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary gla nds with more than ten years' follow up were studied to investigate fa ctors influencing the survival rate of patients, which vary according to site, histological type, clinical stage and nature of therapy. The data were statistically analysed for survival curves. Log rank tests w ere employed to assess the statistical significance of various groups. As a result, it may be concluded that tumour site, clinical stage and histological type are the important factors influencing the prognosis . ACC of the palate and parotid, early clinical stage, glandular/tubul ar histological type, and tumour without nerve involvement had the bes t prognosis. ACC in the submandibular gland, maxillary antrum and tong ue, advanced clinical stage (stage III and IV), solid histological typ e, and tumour with nerve involvement had a poor prognosis.