Surgical management for parotid gland cancer

Between 1972 and 1999, 45 patients with previously untreated malignant tumors of parotid gland origin received treatment in National Kyushu Cancer Center. The crude and disease specific 5- (10-) year survival rates were 70% (48%) and 72% (59%), respectively. The 5- (10-) year determined survival rates for patients with stage I, II, III and IV were 100% (67%), 93% (67%), 100% (0%) and 38% (38%), respectively. The factors influencing risk of cancer death were: stage III and IV, T4 disease, presence of nodal metastases, histologically high-grade malignancy and presence of facial palsy. The results of our analysis suggest that: facial nerve could be conserved for patients without facial palsy, prophylactic neck dissection is not necessary for N0 neck, post operative radiotherapy contributes to locoregional control. (author)