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Submandibular gland cancers: prognostic factors and survival analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate prognosis and prognostic factors affecting oncological outcome.

Methods

Records of the subjects managed for a submandibular gland cancer (SGC) between January 1997 and June 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Survival outcomes were analyzed. All subjects had a minimum follow up of 5 years or until death.

Results

Of 24 subjects (13 male, 11 female), 16 (64.6%) were adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Eight patients had clinically positive neck nodes and 2 of the 16 clinically negative necks were also positive histologically. None of the subjects had distant metastases at presentation. The Kaplan–Meier 5-year estimated locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 62.5%, 83.3%, 58.3% and 66.7%, respectively. American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) overall stage and extra glandular extension (EGE) proved to be significant predictors of LRC. Only smoking was found to be a significant factor related with lower DMFS and only EGE significantly lowered DFS. Positive nodal stage and positive surgical margin were proved to be significant predictors of OS.

Conclusion

Surgery alone is effective in subjects with early stage, noninvasive and low-grade cancers. Despite aggressive treatment, locoregional recurrence was common in subjects who were at advanced stage.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Study concept and design: MMS, UA, MA, YK. Acquisition of the data: UA, MG, EU, VD, ES. Analysis and interpretation of the data: MMS, YK, UA, MA, MG, EU, VD, ES. Statistical analysis: MMS. Drafting of the manuscript: UA, MMS, YK. Critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content: UA, MMS, YK. Technical support: MMS, VD, EU, MG. All of the above listed authors approve the final version of the manuscript and fully agree that accuracy and integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and confirmed, and all questions related to these issues were resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muammer Melih Şahin.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical statement

The study has compliance with ethical standards.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the local Institutional review board.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all the study subjects.

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Şahin, M.M., Demircan, V., Göcek, M. et al. Submandibular gland cancers: prognostic factors and survival analysis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 2307–2313 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05924-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05924-w

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