Non-primary Salivary Malignancies: a 22-year Retrospective Study

Purpose: Most salivary gland malignancies are primary tumors, but in our medical center one of

six is non-primary. The relative scarcity of such reports justifies studying them.

Subjects & Methods: We studied patients` demographic and clinical parameters, salivary

tumors/metastasis, diagnosis and treatment, and survival rates.

Results: Of all our salivary malignancy patients over the last 22 years, 15% (18/119) had nonprimary

malignant tumors, all located in the parotid glands. Of these, nine had skin cancer

(SCC), 3 malignant solid tumors and 6 hematological systemic malignancies. Four had

concomitant second malignancy. Mean age was 70.2±13.8 years, 66.7% of the patients were

males, 27.8% were smokers, none reported alcohol use. The most prevalent diagnostic tools used

were CT (16 patients), FNA (13) and PET-CT (12). Eleven of 18 patients died from the disease

despite receiving therapy: 6 SCC patients, 2 CLL patients and all 3 with solid tumors. All four

lymphoma patients survived as did another three SCC patients.

Conclusions: Chemotherapy and radiotherapy for systemic disease prolonged life rather than

surgery. Patients with poor prognosis non-primary salivary tumors should be treated

conservatively; surgery should be for those without widespread metastases or systemic disease.

Sometimes a palliative patient may benefit from tumor debulking.