Abstract
Objectives: Salivary gland malignancies are an uncommon and
heterogeneous group of cancers. We report our experience of
clinicopathological variables that affect survival in patients treated
by curative intent with surgery at a UK institution over a period of 15
years. Design: Retrospective cohort study Setting: Single centre study
Participants We included 108 patients with malignant salivary gland
tumours treated by curative intent with surgery from 2004 to 2019. Main
outcome measures: The association between clinicopathological factors
and their impact on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival
(DFS). Results: 77 (71.3%) presented with early pT classification and
81 (75%) of were node-negative. The parotid was the commonest site of
malignancy (86, 79.6%). Perineural invasion (PNI) was present in 40
(37%) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) was present in 20 (18.5%). 63
(58.3%) underwent adjuvant therapy. Median follow up was 36 months.
Five-year OS and DFS were 81.7% and 71%. Age 50, pT classification
3-4, high tumour grade, PNI, and advanced TNM stage were all associated
with worse OS and DFS, and LVI with worse DFS. There was no survival
difference between a close (1-<5 mm) or negative (≥5 mm)
resection margin. Conclusions: Age >50 years, advanced TNM
stage, PNI and LVI are predictors of poor DFS. There was no difference
in OS or DFS between patients with negative and close resection margins,
indicating that close margins may be adequate for maintaining good
oncologic outcomes in this group of patients.