Major salivary gland diseases. Multicentre study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Otorhinolaryngology (ORL)
• Pathology

Background:

• Parotid neoplasms represent a significant area of study in head and neck oncology.
• Understanding the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of these tumors is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the statistical data of parotid neoplasms from a multicenter study in Italy.
• To compare findings with existing literature regarding tumor types, diagnostic methods, surgical treatments, and oncological outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter questionnaire-based study involving 28 Italian ORL centers over a 10-year period.
• Data collection on patient demographics, tumor histology, diagnostic work-up (echotomography, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, CT, MRI), surgical procedures, and oncological results.
• Statistical analysis of collected data and comparison with literature.

Main Results:

• Benign tumors constituted 80% of cases, with pleomorphic adenoma (57.3%) and Warthin's tumor (32.4%) being most frequent.
• Malignant tumors were less common (14%) than reported in literature, with mucoepidermoid carcinoma (18.2%) being the most frequent.
• Surgical treatments varied, with parotidectomy being common for both benign and malignant tumors. Post-operative radiotherapy was frequently used. Squamous cell carcinoma showed the worst prognosis, while mucoepidermoid carcinoma had the best survival rates.

Conclusions:

• The study provides valuable epidemiological data on parotid neoplasms in Italy, highlighting differences from international literature.
• Diagnostic work-up increasingly utilizes imaging techniques like echotomography and fine-needle aspiration biopsy due to cost-effectiveness and accuracy.
• Treatment strategies are diverse, and oncological outcomes vary significantly by tumor type, emphasizing the need for tailored management.