title: Prognostic factors in malignant tumours of the salivary glands.
abstract: Salivary gland tumours are a relatively rare group of lesions best managed in specialist centres. We review some of the factors that influence their prognosis. Clinical stage is the most important, with large malignancies having a poor prognosis regardless of histological grade and other features such as perineural invasion. Even high grade neoplasms may do well when they are small. A helpful guide to the management of salivary cancers is the "4 cm" rule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield, United Kingdom. p.speight@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Speight
authors.forename: A William
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate