Second primary malignancies following salivary gland cancers

Four hundred and fifteen males and 367 females who had invasive malignant tumours of the salivary glands as their first cancer diagnosed in Connecticut between 1935 and 1978 were identified and followed 2342 and 2868 person-years respectively. Overall a slight excess of second primary cancers (relative risk 1.35) was observed. Significant excesses were noted for respiratory cancers in males (relative risk 2.8) and for ovarian cancer (relative risk 5.3) but not breast cancer (relative risk 1.3) in women. Possible reasons for excesses at these sites are discussed, but it seems most likely they are related to small number variation.