Prognostic factors in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the minor salivary glands: A single-center retrospective study

Masahiko Terauchi; Yasuyuki Michi; Hideaki Hirai; Kentaro Sugiyama; Akane Wada; Hiroyuki Harada; Tetsuya Yoda

doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2020.10.012

Prognostic factors in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the minor salivary glands: A single-center retrospective study

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2021 Feb;131(2):209-216. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2020.10.012. Epub 2020 Oct 16.

Authors

Masahiko Terauchi¹, Yasuyuki Michi², Hideaki Hirai³, Kentaro Sugiyama⁴, Akane Wada⁵, Hiroyuki Harada⁶, Tetsuya Yoda⁷

Affiliations

¹ Project Assistant Professor, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
² Junior Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: Y-mic.mfs@tmd.ac.jp.
³ Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Clinical Fellow, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Clinical Fellow, Department of Oral Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁶ Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Professor, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 33187937
DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2020.10.012

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic effects of clinical and histologic findings in patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of minor salivary glands.

Study design: This retrospective clinical review included 63 patients (30 males, mean age 52.8 years) with minor salivary gland MEC treated at our hospital from 1994 to 2019. Overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier limit method. Correlations between different factors and survival rates were assessed using chi-square tests.

Results: The 10-year OS rate was 91.2%. Low- or intermediate-grade MEC had a good prognosis regardless of the surgical margin, whereas high-grade MEC had a poor 10-year OS rate (64.2%). Ten patients developed recurrence or metastasis after primary surgical resection, of whom 6 were diagnosed with a high-grade tumor. The most frequently affected site was the palate, whereas the mandibular gingiva was the most commonly affected site during recurrence. Of 4 patients who received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy postsurgery, 2 had local recurrence and/or neck lymph node metastasis and 1 died from MEC.

Conclusion: Patients with low- or intermediate-grade MEC exhibited satisfactory survival after surgery. In patients with high-grade tumors, it has been suggested that survival rates are poor and do not improve following adjuvant therapy.

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid* / surgery
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Salivary Gland Neoplasms* / surgery
Salivary Glands, Minor