High incidence of lymph node metastasis in major salivary gland cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the incidence and risk factors for clinically apparent and occult lymph node metastases in patients with major salivary gland cancers.


METHODS
Cohort of patients with a median follow-up of 46 months (range, 1-174 months).


METHODS
University-based referral center.


METHODS
A total of 160 consecutive patients with complete clinical and pathologic data.


METHODS
Neck dissection was performed in all cases. Patients were treated with surgery alone (55%); surgery and radiation therapy (43%); or a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy (2%).


METHODS
Incidence of apparent and occult lymph node metastases. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the significance of clinical and pathologic data.


RESULTS
Histologically confirmed positive neck was found in 53% of all cases. Histologic diagnosis was significantly related to the incidence of lymph node metastasis: 89% (16/18) for undifferentiated carcinomas. However, so-called low-risk tumors had incidence rates of 22% to 47%. Twenty-one patients (13%) presented with clinically apparent cervical lymph node metastasis. Of the 139 patients with clinical N0 neck, 45% had occult neck metastasis. Neck metastasis was found in 29% (10/34) of T1, 54% (38/70) of T2, 65% (20/31) of T3, and 54% (16/25) of T4 tumors. Assessment of survival according to nodal status revealed significant correlations for overall (P<.001) and disease-free survival (P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
We found a high incidence of lymph node metastasis from major salivary gland cancers. Neck dissections should be considered as an integral part of the surgical approach in patients with major salivary gland cancer, especially if no postoperative radiation therapy is planned.
Stennert
Eberhard
E
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Kisner
Dilek
D
Jungehuelsing
Markus
M
Guntinas-Lichius
Orlando
O
Schröder
Ursula
U
Eckel
Hans Edmund
HE
Klussmann
Jens Peter
JP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*