Post-treatment monitoring of salivary gland cancer: REFCOR recommendations by the formal consensus method

E Chabrillac; S Vergez; B Barry; F Jegoux; B Verillaud; N Pham Dang; B Baujat; N Fakhry

doi:10.1016/j.anorl.2023.11.003

Post-treatment monitoring of salivary gland cancer: REFCOR recommendations by the formal consensus method

Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2023 Nov 28:S1879-7296(23)00155-2. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2023.11.003. Online ahead of print.

Authors

E Chabrillac¹, S Vergez², B Barry³, F Jegoux⁴, B Verillaud⁵, N Pham Dang⁶, B Baujat⁷, N Fakhry⁸

Affiliations

¹ Département de chirurgie, institut universitaire du cancer Toulouse - Oncopole, 1, avenue Irène-Joliot-Curie, 31100 Toulouse, France. Electronic address: chabrillac.emilien@iuct-oncopole.fr.
² Département de chirurgie, institut universitaire du cancer Toulouse - Oncopole, 1, avenue Irène-Joliot-Curie, 31100 Toulouse, France; Département de chirurgie ORL et cervico-faciale, CHU de Toulouse-Larrey, université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
³ Département d'ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital Bichat, AP-HP, Paris, France.
⁴ Département d'ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France.
⁵ Département d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP, Inserm U1141, université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
⁶ Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale, université Clermont-Auvergne, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Inserm, Neuro-Dol, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
⁷ Département d'ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, Sorbonne université, hôpital Tenon, AP-HP, Paris, France.
⁸ Département d'ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital La Conception, AP-HM, Marseille, France.

PMID: 38030444
DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2023.11.003

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and modality of post-treatment monitoring of primary salivary gland cancer.

Material and methods: The French Network of Rare Head and Neck Tumors (REFCOR) formed a steering group who drafted a narrative review of the literature published on Medline and proposed recommendations. The level of adherence to the recommendations was then assessed by a rating group, according to the formal consensus method.

Results: Clinical monitoring should be adapted to the risk of recurrence: initially every 3 months and progressively spaced out, becoming annual after 5 years. Post-treatment head and neck and chest imaging is recommended at 3 months. Local and regional monitoring can then be carried out yearly or twice yearly with contrast-enhanced head and neck imaging. An annual chest CT scan is recommended for high-grade tumors. For lesions at high risk of late recurrence, very prolonged annual surveillance (up to 15 years) is recommended, including screening for pulmonary metastases.

Conclusion: Given the wide range of malignant salivary gland tumors, the modalities and frequency of post-treatment monitoring must be adapted to the expected course of the disease.

Keywords: Major salivary gland; Minor salivary gland; Post-treatment monitoring; Salivary gland cancer.

Publication types

Practice Guideline