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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Salivary Glands for Sjogren's Syndrome: Diagnostic and Monitoring Insights
Published on: October 13, 2023
Prognostic factors in malignancy of the minor salivary glands
Kwok Seng Loh1, Emma Barker, Guillem Bruch
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors associated with minor salivary gland malignancies.
Method:
This was a retrospective study of 171 patients. Statistical analysis of both clinical and pathological parameters with survival outcomes was performed.
Results:
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (46.8%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (22.8%), and adenocarcinoma (18.7%) were the most common pathologies. The most frequent sites of primary tumor were in the oral cavity (44.4%) and nasal cavity (40.4%). The 5-year and 10-year overall survivals were 73.8% and 58.1%. Disease-specific survivals (DSS) were 78.2% and 66.7% and disease-free survivals (DFS) were 64.8% and 47.5%, respectively. Local recurrence rate was 26.9%, regional recurrence 7%, and distant failure was 18.7%. The grade of tumor was the only factor associated with DSS on multivariate analysis.
Conclusion:
Overall and DSS of minor salivary gland malignancies were good. Surgery, either alone or in combination with radiation, was an efficacious treatment modality. High-grade tumors were associated with worse DSF.
