Clinical outcomes of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: a single institution 20-year experience.
BACKGROUND
This study reports the clinical outcomes of head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma treatment over a 20-year period.


METHODS
The treatment outcome of 51 head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma patients treated between 1992 and 2013 were analysed. Patients were stratified into radical treatment and disease control groups.


RESULTS
A total of 40 patients underwent surgery and post-operative radiotherapy. The 10-year disease-specific survival rate was 93 per cent. Eleven patients had tumour recurrence: of these, nine were pulmonary metastases. The 11 patients in the disease control group had a median follow up of 21 months (range, 2-172 months); 5 underwent radical radiotherapy with palliative intent.


CONCLUSIONS
There was late tumour recurrence in over 25 per cent of patients. Adenoid cystic carcinoma has a high tendency to relapse even after radical excision and adjuvant therapy. However, definitive radiotherapy should still be considered on an individual basis because it may provide local control and prolong patient survival.
Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,St. John's Hospital,Livingston,Scotland,UK.
S
S
Ali
Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,St. John's Hospital,Livingston,Scotland,UK.
J C-L
JC
Yeo
Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,St. John's Hospital,Livingston,Scotland,UK.
T
T
Magos
Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,St. John's Hospital,Livingston,Scotland,UK.
M
M
Dickson
Department of Clinical Oncology,Edinburgh Cancer Centre,Western General Hospital,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK.
E
E
Junor
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
Adenoid Cystic; Carcinoma; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Outcome Assessment; Survival