title: Radiotherapy alone or combined with surgery for salivary gland carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors analyzed the outcomes of patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone or combined with surgery for carcinoma of the salivary glands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between October 1964 and June 2003, 224 previously untreated patients were treated with curative intent with RT alone (n = 64) or combined with surgery (n = 160) at the University of Florida College of Medicine (Gainesville, FL). The median follow-up period was 5.0 years (range, 0.4-31.6 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 10-year local control rate was 75%. Multivariate analysis of local control revealed that T classification (P < 0.0001) and treatment group (P < 0.0001) impacted this end point. Patients treated with surgery and adjuvant RT had improved local control compared with patients treated with RT alone. The 10-year locoregional control rate was 68%. Multivariate analysis of locoregional control revealed that overall stage (P < 0.0001) and treatment group (P = 0.0002) significantly influenced this end point. The 10-year distant metastasis-free survival rate was 68%. Multivariate analysis of distant metastasis-free survival revealed that overall stage (P < 0.0001) significantly influenced this end point. The 10-year cause-specific and overall survival rates were 57% and 44%, respectively. Multivariate analysis of cause-specific survival revealed that overall stage (P < 0.0001) significantly impacted this end point. Twenty-three patients (10%) experienced severe complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of patients with salivary gland carcinoma were cured with surgery combined with adjuvant RT. RT alone was used for patients with unresectable tumors and cured approximately 20% of those with advanced-stage disease. The probability of cure was influenced by the extent of disease and treatment group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA. mendewil@shands.ufl.edu
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Mendenhall
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Amdur
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Werning
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Villaret
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome