Minor salivary gland tumors: the role of radiotherapy.
Previous analyses of minor salivary gland tumors (MSGTs) have not clearly established the role of radiotherapy in their treatment. The following is a retrospective review of 44 patients treated from 1956 to 1984 with MSGT of the maxillary sinus (15 of 44), nasal cavity/ethmoid complex (six of 44), or hard palate (23 of 44). Histological findings included adenocarcinoma (18), adenoid cystic (17), high-grade mucoepidermoid (six), and mixed malignant (three). Treatment was by surgery (18 of 44), radiotherapy (eight of 44), or a combination of both (18 of 44). Patients treated with radiotherapy, either alone or combined with surgery, had disease that was inoperable, marginally resectable, or residual after surgery. Despite this handicap, 3-year local control rates for all treatment modalities were similar (surgery, 78%; radiotherapy, 63%; and combined treatment, 83%). Absolute 3-year survival rates were 94% for surgery, 63% for radiotherapy, and 78% for combined therapy, with death attributable to distant metastases a significant factor in the advanced cases treated with radiotherapy. A dose response relationship was apparent in those patients whose treatment involved radiotherapy. Clearly, MSGTs are radioresponsive lesions and radiotherapy can play an important role in their management.
Jenkins
D W
DW
Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
Spaulding
C A
CA
Constable
W C
WC
Cantrell
R W
RW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology