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Risk Factors and Survival Associated with Distant Metastasis in Patients with Carcinoma of the Salivary Gland

  • Head and Neck Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Salivary gland cancer (SGC) is rare and has various pathologies and metastatic potentials. Because distant metastasis can be observed after treatment, as well as at initial presentation, this study aimed to investigate the rates, risk factors, and survivals associated with distant metastasis in patients with SGC.

Methods

This study involved 454 consecutive patients with previously untreated SGC who were treated at our tertiary referral center. Clinical factors, operative and pathologic findings, and treatment outcomes were carefully reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with distant metastasis and their associations with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

Of 454 patients, 95 (20.9 %) presented with distant metastases; of these, 7 (7.4 %) were at the initial stage, while 88 (92.6 %) were detected during a median follow-up of 100 months (range 24–282). Distant metastases to single and multiple organs were found in 64 (67.4 %) and 31 (32.6 %) patients, respectively, with the most common site being the lung (77.9 %). In multivariate analysis, a non-parotid tumor site, high histological grade, perineural invasion, and T3–4 and N2–3 classifications were independent variables of DMFS, while distant metastasis was an independent variable of CSS and OS (p < 0.005 each). The median survival duration after distant metastasis development was 15 months (range 2–103).

Conclusions

Distant metastasis frequently develops after treatment for SGC and is associated with poor survival outcomes; thus, close surveillance may be required for patients with SGC and risk factors.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grant No. 2015R1A2A1A15054540 from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning, and Grant No. HI15C2920 from the Korean Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), Ministry of Health and Welfare, Seoul, Republic of Korea (Jong-Lyel Roh).

Disclosure

Soo Jung Nam, Jong-Lyel Roh, Kyung-Ja Cho, Seung-Ho Choi, Soon Yuhl Nam, and Sang Yoon Kim have declared no conflicts of interest.

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Correspondence to Jong-Lyel Roh MD, PhD.

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Nam, S.J., Roh, JL., Cho, KJ. et al. Risk Factors and Survival Associated with Distant Metastasis in Patients with Carcinoma of the Salivary Gland. Ann Surg Oncol 23, 4376–4383 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-016-5356-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-016-5356-3

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