[Radiotherapy of malignant salivary gland tumors]

The results of treatment of 230 patients with different malignant tumors of the greater salivary glands (adenocystic carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, mucoepidermoid tumor, undifferentiated carcinoma, carcinoma in pleomorphous adenoma, epidermoid carcinoma, etc.) were analysed. Altogether 177 patients received combination treatment and 53 radiation therapy as a single modality. In preoperative irradiation the summary focal dose was 45-50 Gy, in postoperative irradiation 60 Gy, when radiation therapy was used alone the dose was 65-70 Gy. A study was made of the long-term therapeutic results with relation to a therapeutic modality, tumor morphological structure and stage. In combined therapy, the highest 5-year survival rates were in adenocystic carcinoma (83%) and mucoepidermoid tumor (78.5%), the lowest rate in undifferentiated carcinoma (16.6%). In radiation therapy used as a single modality the 5-year survival rates were 38.8% in adenocystic carcinoma and 8.3% in adenocarcinoma.