Cytology and histology have limited added value in prognostic models for salivary gland carcinomas

van der Schroeff, Marc P.; Terhaard, Chris H.J.; Wieringa, Marjan H.; Datema, Frank R.; Baatenburg de Jong, Robert J.

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2010.06.007

« Previous Next »Oral Oncology
Volume 46, Issue 9 , Pages 662-666, September 2010

Cytology and histology have limited added value in prognostic models for salivary gland carcinomas

Marc P. van der Schroeff
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 107033106; fax: +31 107033102.
Chris H.J. Terhaard
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Marjan H. Wieringa
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Frank R. Datema
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Robert J. Baatenburg de Jong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Received 5 May 2010; received in revised form 15 June 2010; accepted 16 June 2010. published online 16 July 2010.

Summary

Univariate analyses on malignant salivary gland tumors report a strong relation of histological subtypes and prognosis. However, multivariate analyses with sufficient patients and reflecting the broad spectrum of putative prognostic factors are rare.

In order to study the prognostic value of cytology and histology in salivary carcinoma we performed multivariate analyses on 666 newly diagnosed patients.

In multivariate analyses sex, tumor size, N- and M-staging, localization, comorbidity, skin involvement and pain were independent predictors of survival. Histology was an independent prognostic factor, mainly because acinic cell carcinoma acted differently from the other histological subtypes. However, a simple prognostic model without cytology and/or histology has similar predictive power compared to more elaborate models.

The added prognostic value of cytology and/or histology factors in salivary carcinoma is limited, largely due to the combined prognostic value of other prognostic factors such as tumor size, N- and M-classification and comorbidity.

Keywords: Salivary gland neoplasms, Prognosis, Prognostic model, Multivariate analysis, Proportional hazards models