Outcome of curative management of malignant tumours of the parotid gland.

Purpose: The optimal management of malignant parotid gland tumours remains to be defined precisely. Specifically, a further understanding of the tumour features that influence treatment outcome is needed.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 184 patients who were registered at the Princess Margaret Hospital with a diagnosis of a primary malignant parotid gland tumour.

Results: All patients were initially managed with a parotidectomy, and postoperative x-ray radiation therapy (XRT) was administered to 159 patients. The actuarial 5-year cause-specific survival and locoregional control rates were 76% and 81%, respectively. The survival and locoregional control rates for patients treated with surgery alone versus surgery plus postoperative XRT were not statistically different. A multiple regression analysis identified only age and tumour category to be independently significant prognostic factors for both survival and locoregional control.

Conclusion: We would recommend that patients with malignant parotid gland tumours be managed with parotidectomy, followed by postoperative XRT for tumours with residual disease, aggressive histology, and/or positive lymph nodes.