title: [Myoepithelial carcinoma of salivary glands: a clinical analysis of 13 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 13 patients with myoepithelial carcinoma of salivary glands for improving the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen cases with myoepithelial carcinoma of the salivary glands in Xiangya Hospital from January 1992 to September 2010 were reviewed, including the clinical biological behavior, diagnosis,treatment and prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients included 6 men and 7 women, aged from 14 to 71 years (median 40 years).The tumor occurred predominantly in the parotid gland (53.8%).Among the 13 cases,7 were clinically misdiagnosed as benign tumors and 2 were misdiagnosed pathologically. All cases underwent operation. Two cases received surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy; five cases underwent surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy. 4(30.8%) had cervical lymph node metastasis and 2 cases(15.4%) developed distant metastasis. Follow-up time ranged from 3 months to 6 years. Six cases died of local recurrence or distal metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myoepithelial carcinoma of the salivary glands is a rare tumor. The diagnosis is depended on histology and immunohistochemistry. The tumor has a high rate of distant metastasis and high rate of lymph node metastasis in T3 to T4 cases. Radical surgery is the treatment of choice. Elective neck dissection should be considered in T3 to T4 cN0 cases. The effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy needs to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China. luruohuang@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Ruo-huang
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Zhan-gui
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Hong-zhi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Wen-yuan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ping-ping
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Gan
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009208:Myoepithelioma; D037981:Neck Dissection; D010306:Parotid Gland; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms; D012469:Salivary Glands; D016896:Treatment Outcome