Abstract
Background: We examined the assumption in conventional teaching about metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) being an indolent type of disease. Methods: A single center analysis of 105 cases of ACC was performed. Radiographs were reviewed and tumor response to chemotherapy was measured. Distant disease-free survival (DDFS) and time to death since distant metastases diagnosis were analyzed. Results: Forty-two percent of the patients were diagnosed with distant metastases. DDFS showed significant negative associations with advanced T classification, N+ classification, solid type tumor, and positive surgical margins. Distant metastases (91%) developed in the first 5 years after presentation. Median distant metastatic survival was 13.8 months. The most frequent organ sited was the lung. Solid type ACC showed a preponderance for multiorgan metastases (17/28; 61%). Distant metastases seemed not to occur in case of clear surgical margins. Solid type ACC had a significant poorer survival after development of distant metastases. Conclusion: Metastatic ACC is not always an indolent disease.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 456-463 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 24 Oct 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2017 |
Keywords
- adenoid cystic carcinoma
- distant metastases
- head and neck
- patterns of survival
- solid type histology