Primary malignant tumors of salivary gland origin. A 52-year review.
Primary carcinoma of salivary glands is uncommon, comprising approximately 30 per cent of salivary gland neoplasms. The natural history of these neoplasms varies greatly, depending largely upon the cell type. Only prolonged follow-up can furnish worthwhile data, and five or even 10 years is inadequate in several cell types. Case records of 202 patients who had major or minor salivary gland carcinomas during the years 1928 through 1979 were reviewed from the files of Vanderbilt University Hospital. We studied these records with regard to site of origin, cell type, lymph node involvement, signs and symptoms, routes of metastatic spread, and survival. Microscopic sections were available for review in 188 patients (93%). Major and minor salivary glands were involved as the primary site in 74 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively. Prognostic factors are discussed, including histologic type and grade, size, lymph node involvement, vascular and perineural invasion, growth pattern (i.e., infiltrating versus pushing margins), and presence or absence of invasion outside the gland. Our 99 per cent follow-up of these patients revealed that the natural course of many of these neoplasms was characterized by long duration, repeated local recurrences, occasional metastases to regional lymph nodes, and frequent metastases to the lungs.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery