Salivary gland tumor natural history, complications and prognosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [2]
Overview
If left untreated, [#]% of patients with [disease name] may progress to develop [manifestation 1], [manifestation 2], and [manifestation 3]. Common complications of [disease name] include [complication 1], [complication 2], and [complication 3]. Prognosis is generally excellent/good/poor, and the 1/5/10-year mortality/survival rate of patients with [disease name] is approximately [#]%.
Natural history
If left untreated, [#]% of patients with [disease name] may progress to develop [manifestation 1], [manifestation 2], and [manifestation 3]. Common complications of [disease name] include [complication 1], [complication 2], and [complication 3]. Prognosis is generally excellent/good/poor, and the 1/5/10-year mortality/survival rate of patients with [disease name] is approximately [#]%. Tumors with a high malignant potential are more likely to spread to regional lymph nodes and result in a palpable mass (table 2). Lymphatic drainage varies according to location of the salivary gland: for parotid malignancies, which constitute the majority of salivary gland tumors, the first site of lymphatic spread is the intraparotid lymph nodes, followed by level I and level II cervical nodes (figure 2). Submandibular gland tumors spread to adjacent perivascular nodes and then to the cervical region. The sublingual gland drains to the submental and submandibular nodes, and the minor salivary glands within the oropharynx drain to the retropharyngeal nodes. (See "Evaluation of a neck mass", section on 'Physical examination'.) Distant metastases most frequently localize to the lung, followed by bone and liver [14]. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is associated with a high risk of distant metastases that can occur as late as 10 to 20 years after diagnosis and treatment.
Complications
Prognosis
Early-stage low-grade malignant salivary gland tumors are usually curable by adequate surgical resection alone. The prognosis is more favorable when the tumor is in a major salivary gland; the parotid gland is most favorable, then the submandibular gland; the least favorable primary sites are the sublingual and minor salivary glands. Large bulky tumors or high-grade tumors carry a poorer prognosis. The prognosis also depends on the following:
- Gland in which they arise.
- The prognosis is more favourable when the tumor is in a major salivary gland. Parotid gland cancers have the most favorable prognosis, than the submandibular gland and the least favourable primary sites are the sublingual and minor salivary glands. Minor salivary gland tumors tend to be more aggressive in nature than major salivary gland tumors.
- Grade of the tumor
- Both grade and tumor type are important prognostic factors. Doctors classify salivary gland tumors by evaluating their behavior using both the grade and tumor type. Low-grade tumors have a better prognosis than high-grade tumors. Some types of salivary gland cancers have a better prognosis than others.
- Stage of the salivary gland tumor
- Tumor stage is one of the most important prognostic factors. The survival rate decreases as the stage of the cancer increases.
- Whether the tumor involves the facial nerve, has fixation to the skin or deep structures, or has spread to lymph nodes or distant sites.
- A salivary gland cancer that causes a loss of facial muscle movement (facial nerve paralysis) is often associated with cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes and distant sites. It usually indicates a poor prognosis. Undifferentiated carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the types of salivary gland cancers that most often affect the facial nerves. Patients with salivary gland cancer that has spread to the cervical lymph nodes have a poorer prognosis than those who have no metastasis. Some tumors are more likely to spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, while other tumors do not spread as often. Cancers that spread to distant sites within the body generally have a poor prognosis. The chances of having distant metastasis is greater with increased tumor size (T) and lymph node (N) involvement (T and N classifications).
- Gender
- Men seem to have poorer outcomes than women. The reasons for this are unknown at this time.
- Histology
The five-year survival rate for people with salivary gland cancer that has not spread at the time of diagnosis is 91%. The five-year survival rate for people with salivary gland cancer that has spread to the surrounding lymph nodes (local spread) and the five-year survival rate for people with salivary gland cancer that has spread to parts of the body far away from the salivary gland (distant spread), is 75% and 39% respectively.
Survival rates for salivary gland cancer by stage
| Stage | 5-year Relative survival rate |
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91% |
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75% |
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65% |
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39% |