Oncocytic carcinoma of the salivary glands: A Danish national study

To present a Danish national series of oncocytic carcinoma (OC) patients, including data on treatment, recurrence and survival.

From the national Danish database of salivary gland carcinomas, all patients diagnosed with OC from 1990 to 2005 were identified and data concerning demographics, tumor site, clinical stage and treatment profiles were extracted. A follow-up was carried out.

Of the 15 cases of salivary gland OC, eight were female. The incidence was 0.02/100.000 inhabitants per year in Denmark, 13 patients presented with OC in the parotid gland and two patients with OC in the submandibular gland. Eight patients had nodal involvement at the time of diagnosis. None of the patients had distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. All patients were treated with primary surgery and seven patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Half of the patients had recurrence. Six patients were alive at 5 years follow up and one patient was alive without recurrence at 10 years follow up.

This study is the first to report a national incidence of oncocytic carcinoma in the salivary glands. The results confirm oncocytic carcinoma to be a salivary gland carcinoma with a poor prognosis. All patients experiencing recurrence died of the disease. Treatment must be aggressive. National registries are necessary to achieve further knowledge for future treatment recommendations.