Abstract
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (acc) is often treated with surgery, with or without adjuvant radiation therapy (rt). We evaluated disease characteristics, treatments, and potentially prognostic variables in patients with acc. Our retrospective analysis considered consecutive cases of acc presenting at a tertiary care hospital between 2000 and 2014. Factors predictive of overall survival (os) and disease-free survival (dfs) were identified by univariate analysis. The 60 patients analyzed had a mean age of 58 years (range: 22-88 years), with a 2:1 female:male ratio. Tumour locations included the major salivary glands (40% parotid, 17% submandibular and sublingual), the oro-nasopharyngeal cavity (27%), and other locations (16%). Of the 60 patients, 35 (58%) received surgery with adjuvant rt; 12 (20%), rt only; 13 (22%), surgery only. Of 18 patients (30%) who experienced a recurrence within 5 years, 3 (5%) developed local recurrence only, and the remaining 15 (25%), distant metastasis. The 5-year os and dfs were 64.5% [95% confidence interval (ci): 45.9% to 78.1%] and 46.2% (95% ci: 29.7% to 61.2%) respectively. In patients without recurrence, 5-year os was 77% (95% ci: 52.8% to 89.9%), and in patients with recurrence, it was 42.7% (95% ci: 15.8% to 67.6%). Patients treated with rt only had a 5-year os of 9.2%. Predictors of 5-year dfs were TNM stage, T stage, nodal status, treatment received, and margin status; age, nodal status, treatment received, and margin status predicted 5-year os. Despite surgery and rt, one third of patients with acc experience distant recurrence. Patients whose tumours are not amenable to surgery have a poor prognosis, indicating a need for alternative approaches to improve outcomes.
Highlights
Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a relatively uncommon cancer with an annual incidence of approximately 1200 cases in the United States[1]
Acc can be found at any age, it typically presents in the 5th decade, and it has a slight female preponderance[2]
Consecutive patients diagnosed with acc and presenting to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre between January 2000 and September 2014 were identified by a pathology registry review of Calgary Laboratory Services and a review of the Alberta Cancer Registry, coded by histologic diagnoses
Summary
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (acc) is a relatively uncommon cancer with an annual incidence of approximately 1200 cases in the United States[1]. Adenoid cystic carcinoma occurs primarily in the major and minor salivary glands, but can be found at other sites[2]. The disease usually presents in a localized manner, but is known for its propensity for late metastasis (up to 15 years after initial diagnosis)[3]. Acc can be found at any age, it typically presents in the 5th decade (median age: 57.4 years), and it has a slight female preponderance (up to 60% of cases)[2]. Organs of presentation include the major salivary glands (50%) and the minor salivary glands of the oral cavity (35%)[2,4]. A small proportion of patients present with distant metastatic disease, usually in the lungs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
