title: Factors predicting outcome in malignant minor salivary gland tumors of the oropharynx.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to report our experience in the care of patients with minor salivary gland cancers occurring only in the oropharynx and to determine factors predictive of outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  sixty-seven patients with malignant minor salivary gland tumors were identified from a preexisting database of patients with cancers of the oropharynx between January 1985 and December 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  overall survival, disease-specific survival, and recurrence-free survival were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors predictive of outcome were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the most common histologic types were mucoepidermoid carcinoma in 26 patients (39%), adenoid cystic carcinoma in 16 (24%), adenocarcinoma in 16 (24%), and malignant mixed tumor in 7 (10%). The tumors were located in the base of the tongue in 41 patients (61%), soft palate in 20 (30%), and tonsil in 6 (9%). With a median follow-up time of 86 months (range, 12-249 months), overall outcomes at 5 and 10 years were overall survival, 80% and 53%; disease-specific survival, 87% and 67%; and recurrence-free survival, 69% and 60%, respectively. Tumor recurred in 20 patients (34%); 12 of these patients had locoregional failure and 15 developed distant metastases. Multivariate analyses showed that clinical T stage, anatomic subsite, and margin status were independent predictors for overall survival; T stage and margin status were independent predictors for locoregional recurrence-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  clinical T stage, anatomic subsite, and margin status are independent predictors of outcome of patients with minor salivary gland cancers of the oropharynx.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: N Gopalakrishna
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Iain J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Ashok R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shaha
authors.forename: Jatin P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Snehal G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ganly
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult