Risk Factors of Nodal Metastasis in Salivary Gland Cancer

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2004;20(1):3-6.
Published online May 30, 2004.

Si Hyung Lee;Soon Yuhl Nam;Seung Ho Choi;Jung Je Park;Chan Jong Kim;Woo Seok Kang;Sang Yoon Kim

타액선 악성종양의 경부 림프절 전이의 위험 요소

이시형;남순열;최승호;박정제;김찬종;강우석;김상윤

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Nodal metastasis is one of the prognostic factors in salivary gland cancer. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors of nodal metastasis considered as a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with salivary gland cancer. Material and Methods: The authors retrospectively studied 82 patients with salivary gland cancer who underwent surgery from 1992 to 2002. We analyzed age, sex, tumor size, histologic type and 5-year survival rate to compare patients with and without nodal metastasis.
Results
Mean age was 55.4 years, with a male-female ratio of 1 : 1.28. The overall 5-year survival rate was 85.5%. Among the 82 patients, 14 patients had nodal metastasis. There was no nodal metastasis in low grade malignancy. In patients without nodal metastasis, mean age was 52.5 years and the overall 5-year survival rate was 94.2%. In patients with nodal metastasis, mean age was 69.4 years and the overall 5-year survival rate was 42.9%. In patients with less advanced cancer (T1-T2 stage), the nodal metastasis was 7.5% and with advanced cancer (T3-T4 stage), 33.3%.
Conclusion
Nodal metastasis significantly decreases survival in patients with salivary gland malignancy. High grade malignancy, large tumor size and old age are important risk factors of nodal metastasis. Nodal metastasis is more common in submandibular gland cancer compared with parotid gland cancer.

Key Words: Salivary gland neoplasms, Prognosis, Lymphatic metastasis