Prognostic factors in minor salivary gland cancer.
BACKGROUND
Minor salivary gland cancer occurs infrequently and presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The purpose of this study was to determine prognostic factors for this disease.


METHODS
The medical records of 95 patients diagnosed and treated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham over a 35-year period were reviewed. Information concerning patient, disease, and treatment characteristics was compiled for each case. Multivariate analysis was conducted using a rank regression procedure.


RESULTS
State I or II cancer (p = .022), the absence of cervical lymph node metastases (p = .001), and surgical margins which were free of cancer (p < .001) were predictive of increased 4-year disease-free survival by multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings emphasize the need for detection of early-stage disease combined with complete surgical extirpation of the cancer, which provide the patient with the best chance for locoregional control and long-term survival.
Anderson
J N
JN
Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294, USA.
Beenken
S W
SW
Crowe
R
R
Soong
S J
SJ
Peters
G
G
Maddox
W A
WA
Urist
M M
MM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000407:Alabama; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate