Malignant sialogenic tumours of the larynx

Laryngeal manifestations of malignant sialogenic neoplasias are rare. This paper documents the clinical features, treatment, biological behaviour and prognosis of 15 cases of malignant sialogenic tumours of the larynx that were reviewed in a retrospective clinical and histopathological study. The 15 cases of malignant sialogenic tumours of the larynx were diagnosed at the University Hospital, Eppendorf, over a period of 33 years (1965-1998). Forty per cent were adenoid cystic carcinomas, 33 per cent mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 27 per cent were poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. Local tumour resection, if necessary in combination with bilateral neck dissection and post-operative radiotherapy, was associated with a five-year survival rate in 80 per cent of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was associated with a less favourable five-year survival rate of 33 per cent. Low-differentiated adenocarcinomas were associated with the least favourable prognosis with a five-year survival rate (25 per cent). The prognosis for these tumours is thus poorer than for squamous cell carcinomas with the same localization and TNM status.