Salivary gland carcinomas in children and adolescents: a population-based study, with comparison to adult cases.

Background: Salivary gland carcinomas are rare malignancies, particularly in young individuals in whom only scanty data are available from published studies.

Methods: We searched the SEER database (1973-2006) for patients with a reported diagnosis of salivary gland carcinoma; children/adolescents (<20 years old) were compared with adults.

Results: We identified 263 children/adolescents (58% girls) and 12,571 adults (43% women). The most common histology was mucoepidermoid carcinoma in both groups, but the percentages of other histologies were different. Children/adolescents had more favorable features with most tumors being localized, with no extension to adjacent tissues or lymphatic spread (76% vs 50% in adults, p < .001). Also most tumors were well differentiated or moderately differentiated (88% vs 49% in adults, p < .001). The 5-year overall survival for children/adolescents was 95% ± 1.5%, compared with 59% ± 0.5% for adults (p < .001).

Conclusion: When compared with adults, salivary gland carcinomas in children/adolescents are less advanced, and have more favorable features and better outcome.