PROFILE AND SURVIVAL OF YOUNG ADULTS DIAGNOSED WITH SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS

Abstract

Objective To describe the profile and survival of young adults diagnosed with salivary gland tumors in a reference unit from 2010 to 2015. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study that included all individuals aged 45 years old or less, with histopathologic diagnosis of salivary gland tumors. Variables were obtained from clinical records. Descriptive analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method were used for survival analysis. Results During the study period, 13 cases of salivary gland tumors were diagnosed. The majority of the individuals were female (53.8%), with a mean age of 36 years. Lesions were predominantly located in the parotid gland (23.1%) and buccal mucosa (23.1%). The most frequent histologic types were adenoid cystic carcinoma (23.1%) and adenocarcinoma (23.1%). Most tumors were diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease (57.1%) and treated by surgery (54.5%). From the cases, 30.8% died, with a median survival time of 12 months. Conclusions Late diagnosis of salivary gland tumors has a negative influence on survival, highlighting the importance of training health care professionals for their early diagnosis. To describe the profile and survival of young adults diagnosed with salivary gland tumors in a reference unit from 2010 to 2015. This is a retrospective cohort study that included all individuals aged 45 years old or less, with histopathologic diagnosis of salivary gland tumors. Variables were obtained from clinical records. Descriptive analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method were used for survival analysis. During the study period, 13 cases of salivary gland tumors were diagnosed. The majority of the individuals were female (53.8%), with a mean age of 36 years. Lesions were predominantly located in the parotid gland (23.1%) and buccal mucosa (23.1%). The most frequent histologic types were adenoid cystic carcinoma (23.1%) and adenocarcinoma (23.1%). Most tumors were diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease (57.1%) and treated by surgery (54.5%). From the cases, 30.8% died, with a median survival time of 12 months. Late diagnosis of salivary gland tumors has a negative influence on survival, highlighting the importance of training health care professionals for their early diagnosis.