Objectives/hypothesis: To analyze the outcomes of patients treated for minor salivary gland carcinoma with radiotherapy (RT), either alone or combined with surgery.
Study design: Retrospective review.
Methods: Between September 1966 and December 2006, 140 patients were treated with curative intent at our institution for previously untreated minor salivary gland carcinomas (RT alone, 64 patients; combined RT and surgery, 76 patients). Median follow-up for all patients was 5.5 years.
Results: The 10-year local control rate was 66%, and multivariate analysis revealed that treatment group (P = .0004) and T stage (P = .0001) significantly influenced this endpoint. Patients treated with RT alone had a lower local control rate than patients treated with RT and surgery. The 10-year local-regional control rate was 61%, and multivariate analysis revealed that treatment group (P = .0174), overall stage (P = .0004), and N stage (P = .0492) significantly influenced this endpoint. The 10-year distant metastasis-free survival rate was 67%, and multivariate analysis revealed that overall stage (P = .0016) significantly influenced this endpoint. The 10-year cause-specific survival rate was 56%, and multivariate analysis revealed that overall stage (P < .0001) significantly influenced this endpoint. The 10-year overall survival rate was 45%, and multivariate analysis revealed that overall stage (P = .0047), N stage (P = .0173), and nerve invasion (P = .0409) significantly influenced this endpoint.
Conclusions: Most patients with minor salivary gland carcinoma were cured with RT alone or combined with surgery. Treatment group, T stage, and overall stage significantly influenced the probability of cure. Patients treated with combined surgery and RT had a better prognosis, perhaps due in part to selection bias.