Survival outcome of malignant minor salivary tumors in Pakistani population

OBJECTIVE: Malignant tumors of minor salivary glands (MSG) are rare. Survival outcome in Pakistani population with malignant MSG tumors remains to be defined. The objective of this study was to report the clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and survival outcome of radically treated malignant tumors of MSG in Pakistani population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2003 and March 2011, 45 patients with malignant tumors of MSG were treated at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and included in the study. Patient characteristics and treatment modalities were assessed and local, regional, and distant failures determined. Relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) was calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves, and log-rank test was used to determine significance. RESULTS: Median age was 40 (17-83) years. Male to female ratio was 1.25:1. Most common site was hard palate in 31 (69%) patients. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (51%) was the most common histological diagnosis. Nine patients (20%) underwent surgery as the only treatment modality, six patients received (13%) radiotherapy alone, and 30 patients (67%) had surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Eight patients developed recurrence (four local, two regional, one locoregional, and one distant). The 5-year actuarial overall OS and RFS was 77 and 66%, respectively. Age, T-stage, and treatment modality were significant for RFS, whereas T-stage and treatment modality were significant factors for OS. CONCLUSION: Surgery as single modality or combined with radiation therapy resulted in acceptable survival in Pakistani population with malignant minor salivary tumors.