The following is a summary of “Prognostic factors in surgically treated malignant salivary gland tumors,” published in the September 2023 issue of Oral Oncology by Hofmann et al.

The purpose is to identify prognostic factors for risk stratification based on evidence from malignant salivary gland tumors. This investigation identified 162 patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2020 with malignant salivary gland tumors. About 91 patients who underwent surgical treatment at researchers’ institutions and were observed for at least one year were included in the final analysis. Patients were categorized based on their medical records according to their risk profile. This study included 91 patients (mean age 61 years, 51 males, 40 females). 

The entities that occurred most frequently were adenoid cystic carcinoma (n = 13, 14.3%) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 12, 13.3%). Analysis by Kaplan-Meier revealed a five-year overall survival (OS) of 66.2% and a recurrence-free survival (RFS) of 50.5%. Age > 60 years (P = 0.011), categorization into high-risk groups (P = 0.011), UICC stage (P = 0.020), T stage (P = 0.032), grading (P = 0.045), and vascular invasion (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with OS; age > 60 years (P = 0.014), categorization into high-risk groups (P <0.001), UICC stage (P = 0.021), T stage (P = 0.017), grading (P = 0.011), vascular invasion (P = 0.012), and lymphovascular invasion (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with RFS. 

Multivariable Cox regression with backward elimination revealed T stage (HR 1.835; 95% CI 1.187–2.836; P = 0.006) and grading (HR 2.233; 95% CI 1.113–4.423; P = 0.024) to be significant factors for OS. Grading was confirmed as a significant factor for RFS (HR 2,499; 95% CI 1,344–4,648; P = 0.004). Due to the risk of recurrence and spread to other parts of the body, surgery alone may not be enough to treat malignant salivary gland tumors. Radiotherapy and/or systemic therapies should be considered as additional treatments.

 Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S136883752300180X